MotoGP 2014

**husaberg** · 15th February 2014, 17:43

Never knew he died........ will have to google what year.
Someone (i think Pete mentioned seeing him riding in 96) i think that was the year he won the Japo GP
The race when he burst onto the seen was a year or two earlier also at Japan, i think, he crashed.
But hell no one was hanging it out further or for longer.
When he got into the Rainey/Kenny system he seemed much more restrained and his hair was cropped etc... maybe he was over managed.
Maybe the day to day grind away from home was too much. but shit he had talent............
I will see if i can find something on his dad he was sill racing and winning big $$$ when Abe was.

Google turns up this

In 1994, while racing in his home championship, Abe had a chance to race at the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix as a "wild card". He shocked the field by challenging for the win until three laps from the finish before falling off.[4] Abe's performance impressed Kenny Roberts's Yamaha team, and was offered two more rides that year which yielded two 6th places and earned him a full-time Grand Prix ride for the 1995 season.[3] This performance also so impressed a 14 year old Valentino Rossi, that he took on the nickname "Rossifumi" and used it in his early career in deference to such a committed and spectacular racer.

Abe burst out into grand prix competition with an astonishing performance as a wild-card rider on a Honda NSR 500 during the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. He fought for the lead throughout with Mick Doohan and Kevin Schwantz, only to crash three laps before the chequered flag, but had done enough to earn a full time ride with Kenny Roberts' factory Yamaha team for the following season.

Death

On October 7, 2007 while riding a 500 cc Yamaha T-Max scooter in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Abe was involved in a traffic accident with a truck, which made an illegal U-turn in front of him, at 6:20pm local time. He was pronounced dead two and a half hours later at 8:50pm at the hospital where he was taken for treatment.[1][6]

**Oscar** · 15th February 2014, 17:50

Mitsuo Abe.

Rides in the Jap version of speedway Ōto Rēsu (Auto Race). Very famous in Japan.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 15th February 2014, 18:06

Originally Posted by husaberg

Never knew he died........ will have to google what year.
Someone (i think Pete mentioned seeing him riding in 96) i think that was the year he won the Japo GP
The race when he burst onto the seen was a year or two earlier also at Japan, i think, he crashed.

Sorry...yeah 94! Red and green Mr Donut Honda. Had Mr Grumpy Pants Doohan shaking his head at him on more than one occaision! I won good money on him at the TAB the year he first won it. $1500.00 I think. Brought some new B&W speakers I still use to this day!

**husaberg** · 15th February 2014, 18:43

Thanks Oscar i never looked hard enough.
for those that don't know the Japanese do Pavement speedway Huge money...it was one of the few legal forms of betting.
The riders are paid a stipend when they make it pro and plus winnings
They have to maintain there own bikes and they are or where anyway HKS specials motors after they got sick of the Triumphs.
Note the twin steering damper dampening.

**Oscar** · 15th February 2014, 19:03

Originally Posted by husaberg

Thanks Oscar i never looked hard enough.
for those that don't know the Japanese do Pavement speedway Huge money...it was one of the few legal forms of betting.
The riders are paid a stipend when they make it pro and plus winnings
They have to maintain there own bikes and they are or where anyway HKS specials motors after they got sick of the Triumphs.
Note the twin steering damper dampening.

And Abe is a legend at it.
Look for a You Tube clip - it's mental.
If I recall correctly, there's a lot of Yakuza involvement..

**husaberg** · 15th February 2014, 19:05

Originally Posted by Oscar

And Abe is a legend at it.
Look for a You Tube clip - it's mental.
If I recall correctly, there's a lot of Yakuza involvement..

No doubt, they used to house them in a hotel for a week, before the races and ban telephones..... but i bet there is a will and a way.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 15th February 2014, 19:09

Originally Posted by Oscar

And Abe is a legend at it.
Look for a You Tube clip - it's mental.
If I recall correctly, there's a lot of Yakuza involvement..

Yeah crazy fuckers eh!

**Shaun Harris** · 15th February 2014, 19:17

Originally Posted by Oscar

And Abe is a legend at it.
Look for a You Tube clip - it's mental.
If I recall correctly, there's a lot of Yakuza involvement..

Big time Yakuza, hence the gambling

**jasonu** · 16th February 2014, 13:20

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Agree with that list but would add Rainey and Schwantz and def Lorenzo.

and Wayne Gardener.

**jasonu** · 16th February 2014, 13:22

Originally Posted by BMWST?

elbows down goes back way further back than that.One of the Sarron brothers used to drag his elbow

There was a German or Frenchie 250gp rider in the mid 80's that did that too. I remember seeing a photo of it in Two Wheels magazine and thinking fuck that is not possible. Can't remember his name...

**Crasherfromwayback** · 16th February 2014, 13:33

Originally Posted by jasonu

and Wayne Gardener.

Yeah thought about including him. But I think he was more just a tough cunt mongrel than a freak of nature.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 16th February 2014, 13:34

Originally Posted by jasonu

There was a German or Frenchie 250gp rider in the mid 80's that did that too. I remember seeing a photo of it in Two Wheels magazine and thinking fuck that is not possible. Can't remember his name...

Ruggia? Sp.