The Japanese rider Norifumi Abe passed away yesterday evening in a traffic accident in Kawasaki-city (Japan). He was 32 years old. According to local police, Abe was riding a scooter when he collided with a truck that was making an illegal U-turn. Norifumi “Norick” Abe was born on September 7, 1975 in Tokyo. He started to ride a motorcycle when he was 5 years old. His father was a professional racer. After he finished high school in 1991, he went to California to learn motorcycle riding, including dirt-track. Back in Japan, barely 18 years old, he took part in his first All-Japan Championship in 1993, in the 500c class, and won the title. He burst out into competition with an astonishing performance as a wild-card rider on a Honda NSR 500 during the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. He fought almost throughout the race for the lead with Michael Doohan and Kevin Schwantz, only to crash three laps before the chequered flag. He scored his first Grand Prix points that year in Brno (Czech Republic) and Laguna Seca (USA) with two sixth places, riding a factory Yamaha YZR 500. In 1995, he finished the Championship in 9th position, his best placing being a third place (and first podium) in Rio de Janeiro. In 1996 he scored his first win, at home in Japan, on the Suzuka circuit. He was on the podium three more times, with a third place in Donington Park, Salzburg and Rio and finished the season in 5th place, his best result ever. He was 7th in 1997, 6th in 1998 and 1999 (that year he won his second Grand Prix, in Rio), and in 2000 he won again in Suzuka. At the end of 2004, he stopped racing in Grand Prix, and took part in the All-Japan Superbike Championship and also in the Superbike World Championship, in the Yamaha France team (13th in 2005 and 2006). This year he was racing in the All-Japan Championship (1000cc class), in which he was currently 3rd with 97 points. On behalf of the FIM, President Vito Ippolito and CEO Guy Maitre present their sincere condolences to his family and friends. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corporation Co. LTD: About the Passing Away of Norifumi (Norick) Abe It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Norifumi (Norick) Abe (32) on October 7, 2007, following a traffic accident. Norick Abe, as he is fondly known by motorcycle race fans around the world, was competing this season in the JSB1000 class of the All-Japan Championships from the “Y’S GEAR Racing” team. Norick was riding a motorcycle in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Pref. when he met with an accident at about 6:20 pm and he was pronounced dead at 8:50 pm at the hospital where he was taken for treatment. In 1993, Norifumi Abe became the youngest rider ever to win the pinnacle 500cc class of the All Japan Road Race Championships. The following year he was competing in the All Japan Superbike Championship when he joined the Yamaha camp and started competing in the World GP500cc class. From 1995 he began competing full-time in the World GP500cc class, where he eventually compiled a record of three wins, four 2nd places and 10 3rd places in his GP career. This year he returned to the All Japan Championships and also competed in the Suzuka 8 hours World Endurance Championship race in July. During his career Abe was widely known and loved by the fans as a leading figure in the domestic race scene as well as abroad. Comment from Takashi Kajikawa, President, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. “I am deeply saddened to hear this tragic news. Loved by fans in Japan, Europe and the Americas and throughout Asia, Norifumi Abe was an irreplaceable ambassador of motor sports worldwide. Here in Japan the fans were especially excited to see Abe return to the All Japan circuit after 14 years of international competition, and certainly their sense of loss at his passing is great. We pray that his soul rests in peace and we send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.” Norifumi Abe Profile Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan Born on Sept. 7, 1975 2007 team: Y’S GEAR Racing Career: 1993: Champion of All Japan GP500 class 1994: World Road Race Championships GP500 class debut 1995: 9th in World GP500 class 1996: 5th in World GP500 class (won Japan GP) 1997: 7th in World GP500 class 1998: 6th in World GP500 class 1999: 6th in World GP500 class (won Rio GP) 2000: 8th in World GP500 class (won Japan GP) 2001: 7th in World GP500 class 2002: 6th in MotoGP 2003: 16th in MotoGP (spot participation) 2004: 13th in MotoGP 2005: 13th in World Superbike Championship 2006: 13th in World Superbike Championship 2007: Ranking 3rd in All Japan JSB1000 class (at the end of round 6)