Anthony has always had substance abuse problems, but, because of his talent, many folks have tried to help him out. I know the pain that he has caused to those who supported him. Federico Minoli at Ducati tried to help when he raced for them. Minoli was put in the position that others who have sponsored AG have been in. A racer can't perform when he is drunk or stoned. If anyone is to blame it is Anthony or his family, as the support in the industry went on for years after his problem was identified.
Was he worth it? Damn right. I saw him at an AMA Superbike round in Atlanta in the late nineties. He diced for the lead with some of the best in the world that day, and though he didn't take first, he did put in a performance that showed he was one of the best riders around.
Could he dry out and still race at that pace? Probably. But those of us who counted themselves his fans got a little tired of waiting for those brilliant performances he was capable of when sober, like his stunning win on a Bimota in WSBK.
It's sad. He was a gifted rider.
Francis