R.I.P. Norick Abe

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
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More details on Norick 'Norifumi' Abe's apparent death are becoming known now that the news of his death has reached Europe and America.

News reports from Tokyo and Yamaha insiders say he was killed in a street accident when a truck pulled a U-turn directly in front of him, and Abe collided with the truck--the same type of accident that killed Mike Hailwood in 1981.

It has been reported that Abe was riding either a motorcycle or a scooter in the incident.

Abe was most well known for his raace with Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan at Suzuka in the mid-1990s when Abe's aggressive riding and to say-the-least unconventional riding style won him many Japanese fans.

After racing in WSBK last season, Abe raced this season in Japan, where was a fairly well known racing celebrity.
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:(

A truely great rider who really showed the giants of the time a thing or two.
 
RIP, a great rider, always entertaining to watch. Would either destroy the field or go down, a great loss to the sport :(
 
Rilot said:
:(

A truely great rider who really showed the giants of the time a thing or two.
Click to expand...
Also, I think, he was the oldest rider on the GP/Motogp scene before he retired.

For those that don't know a certain "Valentino Rossi" was such a big fan that his nickname "Rossifumi" was inspired because of Norifumi (Norick) Abe".

A true great and a very sad lose to the motorcycling world.:(
 
Just read this over on the MotoGP.com site.

Tragic stuff.

RIP Norick. :(

norick3pe8.jpg
 
NAME: NORICK ABE
NATIONALITY: JAPANESE
DATE OF BIRTH: 7 SEPTEMBER 1975
MARRIED: MARRIED



2006 Remains at Yamaha Motor France for his second WSBK season but is unable to improve significantly over his first season, with two fourth places his best results. Again finishes 13th in points and retires from full time racing. Returns to Japan to be a factory test rider for Yamaha.

2005 Joins Yamaha Motor France for his debut year in WSBK. Battles for podium occasionally, but struggles at other times. 13h in championship.

2004 Returns to full-time competition in 2004 as team-mate to Marco Melandri in the Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Team, after Alex Barros jumps ship to Repsol Honda. 13th in championship with best finish of 7th.

2003 Steps down from racing to be an official Yamaha test rider, developing their YZR-M1. Competed in three Grands Prix while standing in for the injured Marco Melandri in the Fortuna Yamaha Team at Suzuka, Welkom and Valencia, and a further two events as a Yamaha wild-card. 16th in the final World Championship standings.

2002 Sixth in the MotoGP world championship with 129 points racing racing for the Antena 3 Yamaha D'Antin team.

2001 Joint sixth in the 500cc World Championship with 137 points again racing for the Antena 3 Yamaha D'Antin team.

2000 Eighth in the 500cc World Championship with 147 points. Sixth full season with Yamaha.

1999 Sixth in the 500cc World Championship and recorded second 500cc win (BRA).

1998 Sixth in the 500cc World Championship.

1997 Seventh in the 500cc World Championship.

1996 Fifth in the 500cc World Championship. Also scored first win and set first fastest lap for Team Roberts (JPN).

1995 Finished ninth in the 500cc World Championship.

1994 Made 500cc debut (JPN) and fought for victory lead until crashing out.

1993 Won All-Japan 500cc title.

1992 Runner-up in national 250 championship.
 
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