Basically it stands for the dirt on Goba

Goba is my nickname that stemmed from GOB, which was given to me by a mate in my first year of school. He took one look at my name – Grant O’Brien – then looked at me and said, “Did you know your initials spell GOB, and I was like no, never really thought about it before. And from that moment, at five years of age, Grant was rarely ever used again. Later on down the track Gob became Goba and it has stuck to this very day.

GOBADIRT.COM is the home for the photos I’ve taken and the stories I’ve written starting from the year 2001 until now. As you’ll notice all things moto make up the majority of the space on this site, but don’t be surprised to find random images from my travels, or other material I find interesting as the site evolves over time.

I figure it’s of a greater benefit to allow like-minded enthusiasts the chance to check out my work at the touch of a button than to have it stored on CD’s and in photo files collecting dust in a dark cupboard where no one can see it, including myself.

I welcome any feedback from those who visit my site, and I’m always on the search for the opportunity to shoot more photos and capturing the story if needed, especially if it includes travel, adventure and meeting new people, while at the same time getting paid for it!

A Little History First

I was born in a place called Hammersmith, England, 1969. My father Phil had made the journey from Australia to Europe the previous year to fulfil his dream of racing motorcycles in the world championship – 350 and 500cc GPs, and the legendary Isle Of Man (the place I was christened) street circuit race – that has claimed the life of many a keen racer through-out the years, and it still is thriving today.

Joy with spare goggles ready on the start line at Sachsenring GP, Germany, 1969.

My mother Joy made the journey with him and they together travelled from country to country, race to race in an old van with two motorcycles - an Aermacchi 350 and a Matchless 500 - and everything they needed to survive life on the road during the road-racing season. I spent my first ten months travelling in that van, and sleeping through the sounds of factory MV Agusta machines being warmed up for early morning practice while parked in the pits. What a way to enter the world. I guess you could say that the energy of motorcycles was instilled in my blood from an early age.

A Honda XL75, headlight an all, was the first bike I had the pleasure of riding and owning at 10-years-of-age. The old man was quite happy to have me riding my BMX up until that point, but he knew it was only a matter of time before riding motorcycles became a passion that I would live and breath forever.

As time went on my ride changed to a Yamaha YZ80K that was ridden every weekend at the local Police Boys Club, Menai. Then by the time I turned 15 the lure of racing motocross became far too strong and I lined up for my first race aboard a Honda CR125RE at Macarthur Park, Appin. I was lapped towards the end of the race, but it was the greatest experience I’d had up until that point of my life. The following four years saw me upgrade to each new Honda 125 model and race or ride every weekend possible. Somehow I even managed to complete an apprenticeship as a Fitter/Machinist during those four years, which helped me pay for the fuel in my Holden HQ Ute, and all the expenses that come with racing a motorcycle … Yes I was broke.

My Best Shot

I never became a star, but racing dirt-bikes opened exciting new doors, introduced me to many great people, and many became friends for life. It taught me how to fight for the things I want. It taught me patience, determination, focus, how to handle pain and that the reward after healing is sweet. I’ve never regretted for one minute the endless hours I’ve dedicated to the sport - the blood sweat and tears, the ups and downs, and disappointments endured during my racing years were always far outweighed by the thrill and inner feelings reached from riding a motorcycle.

If I’d never been given the opportunity to ride a motorcycle I wouldn’t be where I am today, travelling the world capturing the sport I love through my photography and writing, which came about when asked by a friend to write my first article for the first ever issue of Freerider MX in the year 2000. The flow continued from that first article with another for Moto X Rider, then another for ADB. Then from issue five of Freerider MX I regularly contributed features until I took over as editor from issue number nine. That love affair lasted 20-odd issues until February 2004 when I decided to take a well earned break. But it didn’t last long as Trail Bike Adventure magazine needed an editor for a bunch of issues and guess who couldn’t resist?

Who knows what the future has in store, but I know one thing is for certain, and that is I’ll be riding, writing, and shooting photos for gobadirt.com for many years to come!

Feel free to shoot me an email with feedback, questions, or just to say hello. Cheers, Goba.

Adam Barker, from Fuel TV's Freestyle Motocross program M80, produced this clip about my photography whilst filming the 2007 FMX Euro Roadtrip with Germany's Busty Wolter.

Freerider MX (Editor from issue 9 to 28, 2002 to 2005)

Trail Bike Adventure (Editor from issue 7 to 10, 2005 to 2006)

Stroke MX (Australian)

ADB (Australian)

Dirt Action (Australian)

MotoX Rider (Australian)

Moto X (German)

Moto X (UK)

MCN (UK)

Slam (Skate)