Andrew Pitt

Andrew Pitt (born 19 February 1976 in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia) is a retired motorcycle racer. He is a double World Supersport Champion, and has also won a World Superbike race and competed in MotoGP. He lives in Peel on the Isle of Man.^[1]

Career

Early career of Andrew pitt

Pitt began racing in the NSW State 250 Production Series in 1995, winning it in 1997. He was Australian Supersport Champion and Superbike runner-up in 1999, before entering the Supersport World Championship in 2000 riding for Kawasaki. He finished 10th in his debut season and won the title in 2001, without winning a race. For 2002 he continued in Supersport with Kawasaki finishing the season 5th and gaining his first two victories.

MotoGP & Superbike World Championship

At the end of 2002, Pitt was given a ride on Kawasaki's first MotoGP bike for the final 3 races of the season. He took his and Kawasaki's first MotoGP points at the final race of the season.^[2] His promising results in 2002 made Kawasaki offer him a full-time MotoGP ride for the 2003 season. He matched experienced teammate Garry McCoy, but neither was retained after an uncompetitive year. He made occasional appearances for Moriwaki in 2004 as part of their development programme.

In 2004 Yamaha signed Pitt. After three Supersport World Championship races at the end of the year, he was a Superbike World Championship factory rider for .^[3] He finished the season 8th overall, behind teammate Noriyuki Haga who was third. Things improved in as he was 5th overall, and scored his maiden Superbike World Championship win at the Misano Circuit in Italy in June 2006.^[4] At the end of the season, he lost his seat to fellow Australian and Superbike World Champion Troy Corser.^[5]

For 2007, Pitt signed to race in MotoGP for the Ilmor team.^[6] He was forced to retire with mechanical problems from the first race of the season in Qatar.^[7] On 15 March 2007, Ilmor announced that they were taking a break from MotoGP as a result of funding issues.^[8] This left Pitt without a ride.

Return to Supersport

Later in 2007, Pitt made two substitute appearances in the Supersport World Championship for Ten Kate replacing the injured Sébastien Charpentier,^[9] taking two second places behind dominant teammate Kenan Sofuoğlu.

In 2008, Pitt raced in World Supersport for Ten Kate full-time, replacing Sofuoglu. In his first race, he collided with the crashed bike of teammate Jonathan Rea.^[10] He won three of the first six races to establish a championship lead.^[11] A collision with Eugene Laverty at Vallelunga threatened to derail his championship challenge,^[1] but he clinched the 2008 World Supersport championship in the penultimate round at Magny-Cours after closest rival Rea was taken out by Robbin Harms.^[12] During the Brands Hatch race in 2008, Pitt was involved in an accident that claimed the life of Craig Jones. The British rider fell in front of Pitt at Clark Curve, and Pitt's bike unavoidably^[13] struck the head of Jones, who died from his injuries on 4 August.

Pitt remained with the team for 2009, despite originally targeting a return to WSBK.^[14] He opened the season with two second places on the 2008 bike, but struggled once the 2009 model was introduced. He was replaced by Michele Pirro for 2010.

Return to Superbike

On 16 December 2009, it was announced that Pitt had agreed a contract with the Reitwagen Motorsport team to ride in the 2010 Superbike World Championship season.^[15] Pitt partnered teammate Roland Resch in riding a satellite version of the BMW S1000RR. However, the team pulled out after only three races due to a lack of funds.

British Superbike Championship

Pitt again changed direction following the demise of Reitwagen, joining Rob McElnea's team midway through the 2010 British Superbike Championship season as a replacement for Neil Hodgson,^[16] but he was injured in a crash at Brands Hatch and missed the rest of the season.

Retirement

In June 2011, Pitt, who was still recovering, became Gary Mason's crew chief at MSS Colchester Kawasaki in British Superbike Championship.^[17]

In January 2012, Pitt, having struggled with the shoulder injury suffered in 2010, announced his retirement from motorcycle racing.^[18]

He worked as a crew chief in Superbike World Championship for Andrea Locatelli^[19]

Career statistics

All-time statistics

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Superbike World Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

British Superbike Championship

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

References

1. ^ Pitt crashes out in Italy Archived 17 February 2013 at archive.today
2. ^ First points for Pitt and Kawasaki crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.
3. ^ Pitt named at Yamaha – makes R1 debut crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.
4. ^ "Motorcycle Racing Online - Troy Bayliss again; Andrew Pitt's first win in WSB"
5. ^ Yamaha confirms Corser, Haga for 2007 crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.
6. ^ McWilliams confirms MotoGP return bbc.co.uk Retrieved 15 March 2007.
7. ^ Ilmor puzzled by poor performance autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007.
8. ^ Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007.
9. ^ WSS: Pitt replaces Charpentier at Valencia. crash.net, Retrieved 23 September 2007.
10. ^ "Qatar World Supersport: Jonathan Rea may require surgery following crash"
11. ^ "Andrew Pitt scores third Supersport win - Isle of Man Today". Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
12. ^ Rea world title hopes are ended
13. ^ http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/article.html?id=I_DONT_BLAME_ANDREW_PITT_-_CRAIG_JONES_FATHER_1^{[dead link]}
14. ^ "Focus on title as Pitt re-signs". Macleay Argus. Fairfax Media. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
15. ^ "Pitt optimistic over WSB opportunity". Carole Nash. Insidebikes. 17 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
16. ^ "Pitt will need boxing gloves for BSB debut". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
17. ^ "BSB: Lowes in with MSS Colchester Kawasaki for the rest of the season-Pitt joins as crew chief for Mason". BikeRaceNews.com. 14 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
18. ^ "Andrew Pitt announces retirement". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
19. ^ "Right Hand Men – The Life of a WorldSBK Crew Chief"

External links

• andrewpitt.com Official website