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.

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.[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~51775.htm First points for Pitt and Kawasaki] crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007. 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 {{SBK|2005}}.[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~102815.htm Pitt named at Yamaha – makes R1 debut] crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007. He finished the season 8th overall, behind teammate Noriyuki Haga who was third. Things improved in {{SBK|2006}} as he was 5th overall, and scored his maiden Superbike World Championship win at the Misano Circuit in Italy in June 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://www.f1network.net/main/s180/st99413.htm|title = Motorcycle Racing Online - Troy Bayliss again; Andrew Pitt's first win in WSB}} At the end of the {{SBK|2006}} season, he lost his seat to fellow Australian and {{SBK|2005}} Superbike World Champion Troy Corser.[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~138652.htm Yamaha confirms Corser, Haga for 2007] crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.

For 2007, he signed to race in MotoGP for the Ilmor team.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6191717.stm McWilliams confirms MotoGP return] bbc.co.uk Retrieved 15 March 2007. He was forced to retire with mechanical problems from the first race of the season in Qatar.[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57217 Ilmor puzzled by poor performance] autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007. On 15 March 2007, Ilmor announced that they were taking a break from MotoGP as a result of funding issues.[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57335 Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily] autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007. This left Pitt without a ride.

Later in 2007 he made two substitute appearances in the Supersport World Championship for Ten Kate replacing the injured Sébastien Charpentier,[http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?cid=5&id=146106 WSS: Pitt replaces Charpentier at Valencia.] crash.net, Retrieved 23 September 2007. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/february/18-24/feb2308qatarworldsupersportjonathanreamayrequiresurgery/|title = Qatar World Supersport: Jonathan Rea may require surgery following crash}} He won three of the first six races to establish a championship lead.{{cite web |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Andrew-Pitt-scores-third-Supersport.4191116.jp |title=Andrew Pitt scores third Supersport win - Isle of Man Today |access-date=2008-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619202358/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Andrew-Pitt-scores-third-Supersport.4191116.jp |archive-date=19 June 2008}} 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.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7653402.stm Rea world title hopes are ended ] 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 unavoidablyhttp://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 }} 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.{{cite news|url=http://kempsey.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/focus-on-title-as-pitt-resigns/1324570.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714025831/http://kempsey.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/focus-on-title-as-pitt-resigns/1324570.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2012 |title=Focus on title as Pitt re-signs |work=Macleay Argus |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=23 June 2010 }} 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.

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/pitt-optimistic-over-wsb-opportunity.htm |title=Pitt optimistic over WSB opportunity |work=Carole Nash |publisher=Insidebikes |date=17 December 2009 |access-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719125700/http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/pitt-optimistic-over-wsb-opportunity.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011}} 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.

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,{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/160889/1/pitt_will_need_boxing_gloves_for_bsb_debut.html|title=Pitt will need boxing gloves for BSB debut|work=crash.net|publisher=Crash Media Group|date=23 June 2010|access-date=23 June 2010}} but he was injured in a crash at Brands Hatch and missed the rest of the season.

In June 2011 Pitt, who was still recovering, became Gary Mason's crew chief at MSS Colchester Kawasaki in British Superbike Championship.{{cite news|url=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/ |archive-url=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/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2012 |title=BSB: Lowes in with MSS Colchester Kawasaki for the rest of the season-Pitt joins as crew chief for Mason |work=BikeRaceNews.com |date=14 June 2011 |access-date=16 January 2012 }}

In January 2012, Pitt, having struggled with the shoulder injury suffered in 2010, announced his retirement from motorcycle racing.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/world+supersport/news/176009/1/andrew_pitt_announces_retirement.html|title=Andrew Pitt announces retirement|work=crash.net|publisher=Crash Media Group|date=16 January 2012|access-date=16 January 2012}}

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

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

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

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

{{reflist}}

• {{sports links}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20030920130739/http://www.andrewpitt.com/ andrewpitt.com] Official website

{{Supersport World Champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitt, Andrew}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Australian motorcycle racers

Category:Kawasaki Motors Racing MotoGP riders

Category:Superbike World Championship riders

Category:Supersport World Championship riders

Category:Living people

Category:British Superbike Championship riders

Category:MotoGP World Championship riders

Category:Sportspeople from Kempsey, New South Wales