From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

Abe to Ride as Replacement in Africa
4/11/2003 – Africa’s Grand Prix

The Fortuna Yamaha Team has announced today that Norick Abe will ride as a replacement for the injured Marco Melandri in the Africa’s Grand Prix in Welkom, South Africa on Sunday 27th April. The 27-year-old Japanese Yamaha factory test rider will compete on a 2003 race-spec YZR-M1.

Melandri, the team’s 20-year-old MotoGP rookie, suffered multiple leg injuries when he fell during Friday’s opening practice session of the 2003 MotoGP World Championship. He flew to Italy on Monday and has received some treatment from the Championship’s Clinica Mobile medical staff in Imola. He has a cast on his ankle where he suffered a double fracture, but this is due to be removed after next weekend so that physiotherapy can begin. The haematoma around the crack in his femur has significantly reduced and the
bone should heal without complications. On the whole medical staff are quite happy with Melandri’s progress. However, it is still too early to say exactly when the 2002 250cc World Champion will return to competitive action.

Abe, a former GP regular who finished sixth in the 2002 Championship, had been due to compete in the season-opening Japanese Grand Prix as a wildcard. With Melandri ruled out of the race he was drafted in as the Fortuna Yamaha Team’s replacement and rode to 11th place last Sunday.

Abe and Fortuna Yamaha Team regular Carlos Checa stayed at Suzuka for a pre-arranged Yamaha test where Abe had the opportunity to ride the latest 2003 race-spec YZR-M1. However, heavy rain meant that scheduled track time for the pair was significantly reduced.

Name: NORICK ABE

Born: 7 September, 1975 in Tokyo, Japan

Number: 17

First GP: 1994 500cc Japanese Grand Prix (retired)

Career:

1993 All Japan GP500 Champion
1994 500cc World Championship debut
1995 9th 500cc World Championship
1996 5th
1997 7th
1998 6th
1999 6th
2000 8th
2001 7th
2002 6th MotoGP World Championship