- Andrew Pitt
Supersport rider
Name = Andrew Pitt
Caption = Andrew Pitt, August 2008.
Nationality = flagicon|AustraliaAustralia n
Birthdate = birth date and age|df=yes|1976|02|19
Birthplace =Kempsey, New South Wales Australia
Bike number = 88
Current team =Hannspree Ten KateHonda
Championships = 1
Race Starts = 41
Race Wins = 3
Podiums = 13
Poles = 2
Fastest laps = 2
Points =
Last season = 2008
Last position = 6th (25 pts)Andrew Pitt born birth date and age|df=yes|1976|02|19 in
Kempsey, New South Wales ,Australia , is a professionalmotorcycle racer. He is a double World Supersport Champion, and has also won a World Superbike race and competed in MotoGP. He lives inPeel on theIsle of Man [http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Pitt-crashes-out-in-Italy.4515547.jp] .Early Days
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 theSupersport World Championship in WorldSS|2000 riding for Kawasaki. He finished 10th in his debut season and won the title in WorldSS|2001, without winning a race. For WorldSS|2002 he continued in Supersport with Kawasaki finishing the season 5th.MotoGP and Superbikes
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 firstMotoGP 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 on March 15, 2007.] His promising results in 2002 made Kawasaki offer him a full time MotoGP ride for the 2003 season. He matched experienced team-mateGarry 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 aSuperbike 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 on March 15, 2007.] He finished the season 8th overall, behind team-mateNoriyuki Haga who was third. Things improved in SBK|2006 as he was 5th overall, and scored his maiden Superbike World Championship win at theMisano Circuit in Italy in June 2006. [http://www.f1network.net/main/s180/st99413.htm] At the end of the SBK|2006 season, he lost his seat to fellow Australian and SBK|2005 Superbike World ChampionTroy Corser . [http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~138652.htm. Yamaha confirms Corser, Haga for 2007] crash.net, retrieved on March 15, 2007.]For 2007, he signed to race in
MotoGP for theIlmor team. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6191717.stm McWilliams confirms MotoGP return] bbc.co.uk retrieved on March 15, 2007.] He was forced to retire with mechanical problems from the first race of the season inQatar . [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57217 Ilmor puzzled by poor performance] autosport.com, retrieved on March 15, 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 on March 15, 2007.] This left Pitt without a ride.upersport Part 2
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 on September 23, 2007.] taking two second places behind dominant team-mateKenan 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 team-mate
Jonathan Rea . [http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/february/18-24/feb2308qatarworldsupersportjonathanreamayrequiresurgery/?&R=EPI-98764] He won three of the first six races to establish a championship lead. [http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Andrew-Pitt-scores-third-Supersport.4191116.jp] A collision withEugene Laverty atVallelunga threatened to derail his championship challenge [http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Pitt-crashes-out-in-Italy.4515547.jp] , but e clinched the 2008 World Supersport championship in the penultimate round atMagny-Cours after closest rival Rea was taken out byRobbin Harms [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7653402.stm] . During theBrands 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 [http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/article.html?id=I_DONT_BLAME_ANDREW_PITT_-_CRAIG_JONES_FATHER_1] struck the head of Jones, who died from his injuries on August 4.He is expected to remain with the team for 2009, despite originally targeting a return to WSBK [http://kempsey.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/focus-on-title-as-pitt-resigns/1324570.aspx]
References
External links
* [http://andrewpitt.com/ andrewpitt.com] Official website
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