Post by kokka78 on Oct 8, 2007 10:13:52 GMT
Former Moto GP and World Superbike star Norick Abe has been killed in a road accident in Tokyo aged 32.
Abe, who spent ten years in Grand Prix racing's premier class, was out riding his motorcycle when the fatal accident occurred.
Local police said that he was making a u-turn on a busy street when a truck hit him, killing him instantly.
His death has left the Moto GP fraternity, most of whom last saw him at Motegi two weeks ago, in a state of shock.
Turning to road racing in his homeland aged just 15, Abe found instant success, finishing as runner up in his domestic 250cc championship in 1992 and then winning the 500cc title a year later.
His success earned him a wildcard entry in the 1994 Japanese 500cc Grand Prix on a factory Yamaha, and he stunned the world by leading most of the race, only to crash on the final lap while battling with Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz for victory.
He had done enough though for Kenny Roberts to offer him a full-time ride with his Yamaha team for the following year and, after an impressive debut season, he became a hero in his homeland by becoming the first Japanese winner of his home Grand Prix at Suzuka in 1996.
That was his best season overall as he added three more podium finishes on his way to fifth in the championship.
Following a solid couple of years with Wayne Rainey's Yamaha team, two more victories followed after switching to the d'Antin squad.
The victories in Brazil in 1999 and again at Suzuka in 2000 were the high-points of his career, and his form waned as the 500cc class was replaced by Moto GP machines.
Such was his sterling work for Yamaha though, that the manufacturer offered him a ride with the Ipone team in World Superbikes for 2005.
He spent two years in the championship, taking a best finish of fourth place at Brno in his maiden year, but retired from riding at the end of last year to concentrate on running his own squad in Japanese 125s.
Norick Abe's Moto GP vital statistics
Years: 1994 - 2004
Starts: 144
Wins: 3 (Japan 1996, 2000, Brazil 1999)
Podiums: 17
Poles: 0
Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport
_________________________________________________
R.I.P
Thats another sad sad news!!!
Abe, who spent ten years in Grand Prix racing's premier class, was out riding his motorcycle when the fatal accident occurred.
Local police said that he was making a u-turn on a busy street when a truck hit him, killing him instantly.
His death has left the Moto GP fraternity, most of whom last saw him at Motegi two weeks ago, in a state of shock.
Turning to road racing in his homeland aged just 15, Abe found instant success, finishing as runner up in his domestic 250cc championship in 1992 and then winning the 500cc title a year later.
His success earned him a wildcard entry in the 1994 Japanese 500cc Grand Prix on a factory Yamaha, and he stunned the world by leading most of the race, only to crash on the final lap while battling with Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz for victory.
He had done enough though for Kenny Roberts to offer him a full-time ride with his Yamaha team for the following year and, after an impressive debut season, he became a hero in his homeland by becoming the first Japanese winner of his home Grand Prix at Suzuka in 1996.
That was his best season overall as he added three more podium finishes on his way to fifth in the championship.
Following a solid couple of years with Wayne Rainey's Yamaha team, two more victories followed after switching to the d'Antin squad.
The victories in Brazil in 1999 and again at Suzuka in 2000 were the high-points of his career, and his form waned as the 500cc class was replaced by Moto GP machines.
Such was his sterling work for Yamaha though, that the manufacturer offered him a ride with the Ipone team in World Superbikes for 2005.
He spent two years in the championship, taking a best finish of fourth place at Brno in his maiden year, but retired from riding at the end of last year to concentrate on running his own squad in Japanese 125s.
Norick Abe's Moto GP vital statistics
Years: 1994 - 2004
Starts: 144
Wins: 3 (Japan 1996, 2000, Brazil 1999)
Podiums: 17
Poles: 0
Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport
_________________________________________________
R.I.P
Thats another sad sad news!!!
