Andrew Pitt Explained

Andrew Pitt
Nationality:Australian
Birth Date:1976 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia
Motogp Active Years:–,
Motogp Manufacturers:Kawasaki, Moriwaki, Ilmor
Motogp Championships:0
Motogp Last Season:2007
Motogp Last Position:NC (0 pts)
Motogp Race Starts:23
Motogp Total Points:10
Sbk Active Years:–,
Sbk Manufacturers:Yamaha, BMW
Sbk Championships:0
Sbk Last Season:2010
Sbk Last Position:27th (3 pts)
Sbk Race Starts:53
Sbk Race Wins:1
Sbk Podiums:6
Sbk Fastest Laps:1
Sbk Total Points:409
Ss Active Years:–,, –
Ss Manufacturers:Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda
Ss Championships:2
Ss Race Starts:66
Ss Race Wins:7
Ss Podiums:23
Ss Poles:3
Ss Fastest Laps:6
Ss Total Points:744
Ss Last Season:2009
Ss Last Position:6th (119 pts)
Bsb Manufacturers:Yamaha
Bsb Championships:0
Bsb Last Season:2010
Bsb Last Position:21st (37 pts)
Bsb Race Starts:8
Bsb Total Points:37

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 he 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 him. 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, he 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 he 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 he races 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, 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.

He 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]

Career statistics

All-time statistics

SeriesYears RacesPolesPodiumsWins2nd place3rd placeFastest LapsTitles
2000–2004, 2007–200976323710662
MotoGP2002–2004200000000
2005–2006, 2010530612310
201080000000
Total 157329812972

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

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

YearBike1234567891011121314PosPts
2000KawasakiAUS
Ret
JPN
8
GBR
4
ITA
13
GER
17
SMR
7
SPA
8
EUR
13
NED
10
GER
Ret
GBR
6
10th60
2001KawasakiSPA
11
AUS
3
JPN
3
ITA
4
GBR
10
GER
3
SMR
8
EUR
2
GER
3
NED
2
ITA
4
1st149
2002KawasakiSPA
5
AUS
1
RSA
1
JPN
7
ITA
4
GBR
Ret
GER
2
SMR
6
GBR
18
GER
4
NED
Ret
ITA
Ret
5th126
2004YamahaSPAAUSSMRITAGERGBRGBRNED
3
ITA
6
FRA
6
12th36
2007HondaQATAUSEURSPA
2
NED
2
ITAGBRSMRCZEGBRGERITAFRA17th40
2008HondaQAT
Ret
AUS
1
SPA
19
NED
1
ITA
4
GER
1
SMR
1
CZE
2
GBR
3
EUR
2
ITA
Ret
FRA
1
POR
2
1st214
2009HondaAUS
2
QAT
2
SPA
13
NED
Ret
ITA
5
RSA
6
USA
7
SMR
Ret
GBR
10
CZE
10
GER
7
ITA
6
FRA
6
POR
11
6th119

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year

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

YearClassBike123456789101112131415161718PosPts
2002MotoGPKawasakiJPNRSASPAFRAITACATNEDGBRGERCZEPORBRAPACMAL
19
AUS
17
VAL
12
26th4
2003MotoGPKawasakiJPN
17
RSA
16
SPA
15
FRA
Ret
ITA
16
CAT
Ret
NED
14
GBR
17
GER
19
CZE
16
POR
21
BRA
18
PAC
16
MAL
16
AUS
15
VAL
18
26th4
MotoGPMoriwakiRSASPAFRAITA
17
CAT
14
NEDBRAGERGBRCZE
16
JPN27th2
2007MotoGPIlmor GPQAT
Ret
SPATURCHNFRAITACATGBRNEDGERUSACZERSMPORJPNAUSMALVALNC0

Superbike World Championship

Races by year

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

YearBike12345678910111213PosPts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
2005YamahaQAT
4
QAT
9
AUS
5
AUS
Ret
SPA
Ret
SPA
8
ITA
5
ITA
6
EUR
13
EUR
9
SMR
Ret
SMR
Ret
CZE
10
CZE
Ret
GBR
7
GBR
6
NED
5
NED
5
GER
6
GER
6
ITA
16
ITA
C
FRA
6
FRA
7
8th156
2006YamahaQAT
3
QAT
5
AUS
9
AUS
5
SPA
10
SPA
9
ITA
5
ITA
6
EUR
5
EUR
4
SMR
16
SMR
1
CZE
Ret
CZE
Ret
GBR
4
GBR
3
NED
2
NED
2
GER
4
GER
Ret
ITA
3
ITA
4
FRA
18
FRA
5
5th250
2010BMWAUS
15
AUS
15
POR
Ret
POR
20
SPA
15
SPA
16
NEDNEDITAITARSARSAUSAUSASMRSMRCZECZEGBRGBRGERGERITAITAFRAFRA27th3

British Superbike Championship

Races by year

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Pitt-crashes-out-in-Italy.4515547.jp Pitt crashes out in Italy
  2. http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~51775.htm First points for Pitt and Kawasaki
  3. http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~102815.htm Pitt named at Yamaha – makes R1 debut
  4. Web site: Motorcycle Racing Online - Troy Bayliss again; Andrew Pitt's first win in WSB.
  5. http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~138652.htm Yamaha confirms Corser, Haga for 2007
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6191717.stm McWilliams confirms MotoGP return
  7. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57217 Ilmor puzzled by poor performance
  8. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57335 Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily
  9. http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?cid=5&id=146106 WSS: Pitt replaces Charpentier at Valencia.
  10. Web site: Qatar World Supersport: Jonathan Rea may require surgery following crash.
  11. Web site: Andrew Pitt scores third Supersport win - Isle of Man Today . 2008-08-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080619202358/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Andrew-Pitt-scores-third-Supersport.4191116.jp . 19 June 2008.
  12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7653402.stm 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|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  14. News: Focus on title as Pitt re-signs . https://archive.today/20120714025831/http://kempsey.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/focus-on-title-as-pitt-resigns/1324570.aspx . dead . 14 July 2012 . Macleay Argus . Fairfax Media . 3 October 2008 . 23 June 2010 .
  15. News: Pitt optimistic over WSB opportunity . Carole Nash . Insidebikes . 17 December 2009 . 17 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719125700/http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/pitt-optimistic-over-wsb-opportunity.htm . 19 July 2011.
  16. News: Pitt will need boxing gloves for BSB debut. crash.net. Crash Media Group. 23 June 2010. 23 June 2010.
  17. News: BSB: Lowes in with MSS Colchester Kawasaki for the rest of the season-Pitt joins as crew chief for Mason . https://archive.today/20120707035716/http://bikeracenews.com/2011/06/14/bsb-lowes-in-with-mss-colchester-kawasaki-for-the-rest-of-the-season-pitt-joins-as-crew-chief-for-mason/ . dead . 7 July 2012 . BikeRaceNews.com . 14 June 2011 . 16 January 2012 .
  18. News: Andrew Pitt announces retirement. crash.net. Crash Media Group. 16 January 2012. 16 January 2012.