History of Norick Abe
Experienced GP racer 'Norick' Abe, who finished sixth in the 2002 world championship, returns to full-time competition in 2004 as team-mate to Marco Melandri in the Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Team. Abe, a Yamaha test rider last season, competed in three Grands Prix in 2003, standing in for the injured Melandri in the Fortuna Yamaha Team at Suzuka, Welkom and Valencia. Despite only three starts he still managed to finish 16th in the final world championship standings.
The 28-year-old Japanese began racing at the age of 13 on minibikes. After graduating from school he spent four months in the US, taking part in 40 dirt track and motocross races before returning to Japan, where he became 500cc All-Japan champion in 1993. His first Grand Prix came in 1994, when he took sixth place in his debut race. Abe is looking forward to competing in MotoGP again in 2004.
- Date of birth - 07.09.1975
- Place of birth - Tokyo, Japan
- Nationality - Japanese
- Residence - Sitges, Spain
- Height - 174 cm
- Weight - 58 kg
- Marital status - Married
- Hobbies - Skiing, music
- Team - Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Team
- Bike - YZR-M1
- Grand Prix contested in total - 113, 108 (108 x 500cc) (5 x MotoGP)
- First Grand Prix - 1994
- First race - 1988
- Victories in total - 3, (3 x 500cc)
- First victory - 1996
- Podiums - 17, (17 x 500cc)
- First podium - 1995
- Pole positions - 0
- First pole - NA
- World championship wins in total - 0
- 2004 - Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Team, MotoGP World Championship
- 2003 - 16th, MotoGP World Championship
- 2002 - 6th, MotoGP World Championship
- 2001 - 7th, 500 MotoGP World Championship
- 2000 - 7th, 500 MotoGP World Championship
- 1999 - 6th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1998 - 6th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1997 - 7th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1996 - 5th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1995 - 9th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1994 - 17th, 500 GP World Championship
- 1993 - JAPANESE 500 NATIONAL CHAMPION
- 1992 - 2ND, JAPAN NATIONAL A 250 CHAMPION
* correct as of 21.01.2004
This information was kindly provided by www.yamaha-racing.com
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