Of course, Norifumi Abe has not always won in Japan. But a real relationship has developed between him and the legendary Suzuka circuit. So let's look back at three Abe-dono masterpieces that have gone down in history.
The year is 1994. Japanese 500cc champion, the young Norifumi is offered, as is customary, a wildcard to participate in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. So far, this is not uncommon at all, and some little-known Japanese people have performed very well in the past: Tadahiko Taira started from pole position in 1989, ahead of Lawson, Rainey and company.
He will do his freelance work on a Honda NSR500 run by Mister Yumcha Blue Fox, a team as unknown as young Norick. During qualifying tests, its performance has already been noticed, but remains reasonable. He starts from the second row in front of his compatriot Shinichi Itoh, who has also created a bit of a surprise since the start of the season. For the moment, nothing extremely rare.
But at the lowering of the checkered flag, the earth understood. She understood that a samurai stood up. A man with determination, pride and a warrior spirit defied the odds and delivered a stunning performance.
Luca Cadalora, who started from pole, stole the start and quickly took off. Behind, we find Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz, regulars on the podiums. Just behind them, a ball of fire. Norick comes up like a bullet, and out of nowhere, cold Kevin Schwantz on the brakes! As a reminder, Schwantz is considered one of the best, if not the best brakeman in the history of our sport. Doohan resists as best he can but seems to be in difficulty.
While this article focuses on his relationship with the Suzuka circuit, Abe was strong elsewhere. He has three victories (at Suzuka twice and in Brazil in 1999) and 17 podiums, including this one in Austria in 1996 shared with Mick Doohan and Alex Crivillé. Photo: Box Repsol.
Amazing. We would have said he was playing with his opponents. It adopts completely different trajectories from the rest of the grid, and failing to stick exteriors to the big names for his first race! It's crazy. The crowd, who had been preparing their vocal cords for Itoh, finally shouted for the strangely colored #56.
If Doohan resists, he is only a spectator of the scene. However, Schwantz has it across. Wildcard or not, rookie or not, the Texan is not there to entertain the field. The three drivers will engage in an anthology fight, passing and replaying each other at any point on the track, even at Spoon or 130R, corners which are among the most dangerous in the world.
After having gone up and passed Cadalora, who almost fell just trying to follow, Abe continues to set the pace while being attacked by two hungry guys. But beyond his limits, he fell very violently at the entrance to the first turn, in the lead. Like a symbol.
That day, he amazed the whole world, including a young Italian named Valentino Rossi. The latter declared that Abe was his idol, hence the nickname 'Rossifumi', worn at the start of his career.
This story continues in 1996. The ending is more beautiful, but the suspense is less. Norifumi, on Yamaha Roberts (who noticed him after the 1994 race), crushed the competition throughout the race. He stays in the lead, and no one can catch him. It's a great story, as he shares the podium with endurance legend and 1993 Superbike World Champion, Scott Russell.
Norifumi Abe lost his life in a serious road accident in 2007. Meetings in his honor are organized, like this one in Odaiba the year of his death. Some of these machines are on display there, like this Yamaha YZR500 from Antin that he rode in 2002. Photo: ranpie
How can we not talk about the year 2000? On a Yamaha from Antin, he won again in front of the officials. Only one man stands up to him: it is Kenny Roberts Jr, on Suzuki, who tries as best he can to fight but does not succeed. There is a real impression of a difference in level, something quite disturbing in itself.
Different trajectories, incredible nerve and immeasurable talent, Norifumi Abe's career deserves more than 650 words. A kind, endearing, atypical man with his hair sticking out of his helmet... Which in a way reminds us of Marco Simoncelli. Besides, we hope that these two get away with some serious trouble from where they are.
Cover photo: Rikita
