Racing legend - Norifumi Abe
11/22/2007

Date of birth : 09/07/1975
Place of birth : Tokyo (Japan)
Deceased on 10/08/2007

Nicknames : Norick, the Racing Star
Marital status : married, 2 sons

Website : http://www.norickabe.com

2007 : All-Japan Superbike championship (Yamaha)
2006 : 13th World Superbike championship (Yamaha)
2005 : 13th World Superbike championship (Yamaha)
2004 : 13th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha)
2003 : 16th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha)
2002 : 6th MotoGP world championship (Yamaha)
2001 : 7th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
2000 : 8th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha) - 1 win
1999 : 6th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha) - 1 win
1998 : 6th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
1997 : 7th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
1996 : 5th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha) - 1 win
1995 : 9th 500 cc world championship (Yamaha)
1994 : 17th 500 cc world championship (Honda/Yamaha)
1993 : All-Japan 500 cc champion (Honda)

Youngest All-Japan 500 cc champion ever, Norick Abe was competing in the national Superbike championship when he was noticed out at the 500 cc Grand Prix on Suzuka circuit that he was racing as a wild-card rider. He was leading ahead of the class champions when crashed. Kenny Roberts, Yamaha team manager, called him to race in the world championship. He started with his new team at Donington with a new crash and fractures. Too inconsistent (possibly due to his too original riding style), he never battled out for the title but he saw his popularity growing along the seasons. He delighted the Japanese fans with his first victory at Suzuka in 1996. In 1999, faithful to Yamaha, Norick Abe joined Luis d'Antin's team and won two races (Rio in 1999 and Suzuka again in 2000). Despite a good '2002 season on a 2-stroke YZR, Yamaha only offered him a development rider job in 2003. He made some appearences in competition and came back as a full-time rider in 2004. Replaced by Ruben Xaus, Norick Abe switched to World Superbike for two seasons without any significative result. In 2007, he came back home to race in the Superbike championship. He was 3rd when died in a road accident on October, 7th, 2007.

1994
56 - Norick Abe (JAP, Honda)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
August 2006

1995
17 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolour ink on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
August 2006

1998
5 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
August 2006

1999
6 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
9,6 x 12 "
August 2006
6 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16 "
October 2005

2004
17 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16"
May 2004

2005
3 - Norick Abe (JAP, Yamaha)
Watercolours on 140 lbs paper,
12 x 16 "
October 2005

[ ©  Mon petit atelier 2007]