TOP MOTORCYCLE RACER SUSPENDED AFTER POSITIVE MARIJUANA TEST

LEXINGTON, Ohio (AP) - Anthony Gobert, a leader in one of the nation's top
motorcycle racing series, has been suspended from competition for the rest
of the year after testing positive for marijuana.

The suspension was announced Friday by the American Motorcyclist
Association after the organization received results of a urine sample taken
earlier in the day.

The positive test was his second this month and third since last fall.

Gobert, 22, of Australia, was banned indefinitely from racing at the world
level last fall after testing positive at an event in the Czech Republic. A
similar test result this month made him ineligible for an AMA event at
Laguna Seca, Calif.

In addition, he admitted smoking marijuana June 21 following a third-place
finish at a race in New Hampshire.

Gobert was second in points in the AMA Superbike standings and was
scheduled to compete in a 100-kilometer event Sunday at the Mid-Ohio Sports
Car Course. He has won three races this season and was two points behind
two-time defending series champion Doug Chandler in the Superbike
standings.

Gobert has been nicknamed ``Wild Child'' because, much like the Chicago
Bulls' Dennis Rodman, he regularly changes his hair color. He showed up at
Mid-Ohio with pink hair and also has competed with hair dyed fuchsia,
fire-engine red, blond, black and a combination of black and blond.

``I was wrong. Just plain wrong,'' Gobert said following the Laguna Seca
event. ``I did have a bit of smoke after Loudon (site of the New Hampshire
race), in celebration, which I didn't realize would be considered a serious
problem. ...

``I would never do it before or during a race, because racing is everything
to me, and I know I have disappointed a lot of people, most of all my fans
and teams.

``I hope everyone will chalk this up to a true mistake in judgment, and
give me another chance to bring home a championship.''

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)