Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128364
t» ' competitive machines (running on equal Pirelli tires remember) are pretty much available to all. Having seen only a few of the tracks, and not having ridden a Yamaha RI racer at the time of the interview, Abe has a lot to think about in his approach to his first World Superbike season. From his base In japan, he told us what he thought of the show so far. Is it frustrating for you that there is no Japanese World Superbike round in 2005? I would like to race at least once a year in japan. I'm disappointed that there won't be a japanese round in the schedule. I think the japanese fans want to see World Superbike, and I also want to show the japanese fans my performance. How do you feel about the new challenge of World Superbike? How did it come about? After competing in the GP for the last I I years, I know a lot about GP racing. But, I have never really watched World Superbike racing, so I know practically nothing about it. I haven't even run any tests for it as yet. So, you can truly say that there is so much I don't know yet, and I am naturally very concerned about that. How much of a target is your fellow Japanese rider Yukio Kagayama? Both Kagayama and [Noriyuki] Haga have a lot of experience in World Superbike. Regardless of the fact that they are also japanese, they will surely be much faster than me at this point. I want to work hard in the tests so I can close the gap as much as possible and hopefully be ready to battle them on even ground by the time of the season opener! How much will your experience of four-stroke MotoGP last year help you on a four-stroke R I? Back when I was racing on the YZRSOO, I once tried using a superbike machine for practice in the off-season. I found that the difference between a two-stroke and the four-stroke was so big that I couldn't ride well with the four-stroke. But the other day when I took the YZFRI for a run, I found that I could ride it easily. Though there is a big difference in power between the MotoGP machines and the World Superbike machines, the power development is similar. Since the YZR-M I is a fourstroke too, I think my experience on it last season will help me significantly in World Superbike. What is your opinion of the spec-tire rules, where everyone is on Pirelli tires? I have never raced in World Superblke, but knowing that everyone will be on the same tires simply removes one more decision that I would have to worry about. So, I welcome the idea of everyone using the same tires. What have you heard about the Pirelli tires used in World Superbike? Since I haven't run any proper tests on overseas circuits yet, I can't say anything definite about the tires. Do you consider that your MotoGP career is over and World Superbike is your future, for the rest of your career? I am not thinking about the future when I'm racing. I am only thinking about doing the best I can in that season. Right now, I am only thinking about this season. I don't think this is a time to be thinking about the future. How many years will you continue to race, whatever the category? Maybe another two or three years. I started racing in the GP younger than most, at the age of 18. Because of this, I feel that two or three more years will be my limit, both physically and mentally. How are your French language skills? Unfortunately, I don't speak any French at all. What do you know of your new team and of Sebastien Gimbert? I have heard some things about the team from the Yamaha staff. But since I haven't met anyone yet, I am looking forward to meeting them all at the Valencia test session. I have heard that my teammate Gimbert recorded the fastest qualifying time at the last round of the 2004 season. I am sure that I will be able to learn a lot about things like machine setup by haVing someone on the same team who is that fast on the YZF-R I . How big is the profile of World Superbike racing in Japan? The Superbike is a very minor category in japan. In japan, I think many people at least know the name of Rossi as the MotoGP Champion, but think almost no one knows who the World Superbike Champion is. Most people don't even know about the existence of the World Superbike itself. No one knows what channels the World Superbike races are broadcast on; even I didn't know. But I will be happy if my participation in the World Superbike this year will get some more people interested in it. What do you consider to be the single biggest highlight of your career so far? If I were to choose one, it would be the Japanese GP of 1994. I had won the All-japan 500cc Championship in 1993, and I thought that if I couldn't race well at the '94 japanese Gp, I wouldn't have a chance of becoming a GP rider. That was how important that race was to me. And. in fact, when I was able to battle in the top group in that race and run well, that was really what launched my GP career. If it weren't for that race, I wouldn't be what I am today. What is your ambition for World Superbike in 20051 Speaking honestly, I won't be able to say anything until I have run some real tests. Still, though I know nothing for certain now, I would like to be able to always be in the top group battling for the lead and eventually be part of the race for the championship. How ready is the RI to take race wins in World Superbike? This is an area where I know nothing now, since I haven't run any tests against the other makers' machines. Will you continue to be based at Sitges in Spain in the racing season? I have been based in Sitges ever since I started out in GP racing. I intend to stay based in Sitges as long as I am racing internationally. eN In 1997, Norlck Abe rode for Wayne Rainey'. Yamaha team. HI. teammate that season was Sete Glbemau. Do you think that you will have an advantage at Qatar (as it was your equal best result of 2004) or a disadvantage, with so little Superbike testing beforehand? Two days of tests is really enough for any rider to get to know a course. I may have some advantage on the first day of tests before the opener, but I probably won't have any advantage at all when we get into race week. Where do you see the status of World Superbike? Below MotoGP but above GP250? More than AMA? More than All-Japan or British Championships? The MotoGP is the top category, and I guess World Superbike has to be second. This is because the World Superbike is also a World Championship and uses bikes with the same displacement as the MotoGP. If you compared it to automobile racing, the MotoGP is the eqUivalent of F I and World Superbike is probably the eqUivalent of the Indy. Does the World Superbike ride with YMF, with no clash in dates with the Suzuka Eight-Hour, mean that you will be racing in the Eight-Hour this year? I have no interest at all in endurance racing. For now I want concentrate on the World Superbike sprint races. CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 9,2005 37