Abe replaces injured Melandri

Norrick Abe will fill in for injured Fortuna Yamaha regular Marco Melandri at the Valencia GP on Sunday, November 2.

The 28-year-old Japanese rider will replace regular team member Melandri for the third time this season, after previous races at the opening Suzuka round, and at Welkom in April.

Melandri will miss the last round due to an operation on his right shoulder due for the end of October. This should mean he’ll be fit for pre-season testing for 2004.

Abe has plenty of experience in MotoGP, with his first Grand Prix in 1994. His highest championship standing was fifth at the end of the 1996 season. This year he has been working as the Yamaha factory test rider.

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