Andrew Pitt

{{short description|Australian motorcycle racer (born 1976)}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox motorcycle rider | name = Andrew Pitt | image= Andrew Pitt August 2008.jpg | caption = Andrew Pitt, August 2008 | nationality = Australian | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|02|19}} | birth_place = Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia | Bike number = | MotoGP Active years = {{MGP|2002}}–{{MGP|2004}}, {{MGP|2007}} | 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|2005}}–{{SBK|2006}}, {{SBK|2010}} | 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 = {{WorldSS|2000}}–{{WorldSS|2002}}, {{WorldSS|2004}}, {{WorldSS|2007}}–{{WorldSS|2009}} | SS Manufacturers = Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda | SS Championships = 2 ({{WorldSS|2001}}, {{WorldSS|2008}}) | 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 Active years = {{BSB|2010}} | BSB Manufacturers = Yamaha | BSB Championships = 0 | BSB Last season = 2010 | BSB Last position = 21st (37 pts) | BSB Race Starts = 8 | BSB Total Points = 37 | website = }}

'''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.<ref name="iomt4515547">[http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Pitt-crashes-out-in-Italy.4515547.jp Pitt crashes out in Italy] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217235702/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/Pitt-crashes-out-in-Italy.4515547.jp |date=17 February 2013 }}</ref>

==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.<ref name="Pitt Points">[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~51775.htm First points for Pitt and Kawasaki] crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.</ref> 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 {{SBK|2005}}.<ref name="Pitt 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.</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> At the end of the {{SBK|2006}} season, he lost his seat to fellow Australian and {{SBK|2005}} Superbike World Champion Troy Corser.<ref name="Pitt Corser">[http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~5~id~138652.htm Yamaha confirms Corser, Haga for 2007] crash.net, Retrieved 15 March 2007.</ref>

For 2007, Pitt signed to race in MotoGP for the Ilmor team.<ref name="Pitt 2007">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6191717.stm McWilliams confirms MotoGP return] bbc.co.uk Retrieved 15 March 2007.</ref> He was forced to retire with mechanical problems from the first race of the season in Qatar.<ref name="Ilmor Qatar">[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57217 Ilmor puzzled by poor performance] autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007.</ref> On 15 March 2007, Ilmor announced that they were taking a break from MotoGP as a result of funding issues.<ref name="Ilmor break">[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57335 Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily] autosport.com, Retrieved 15 March 2007.</ref> 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,<ref name="Ten Kate">[http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?cid=5&id=146106 WSS: Pitt replaces Charpentier at Valencia.] crash.net, Retrieved 23 September 2007.</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He won three of the first six races to establish a championship lead.<ref>{{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}}</ref> A collision with Eugene Laverty at Vallelunga threatened to derail his championship challenge,<ref name="iomt4515547" /> 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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/7653402.stm Rea world title hopes are ended ]</ref> 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<ref>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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In January 2012, Pitt, having struggled with the shoulder injury suffered in 2010, announced his retirement from motorcycle racing.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He worked as a crew chief in Superbike World Championship for Andrea Locatelli<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yamaha-racing.com/news/superbike/right-hand-men---the-life-of-a-worldsbk-crew-chief-/|title=Right Hand Men – The Life of a WorldSBK Crew Chief }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===All-time statistics=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan=2| Series ! Years ! Races ! Poles ! Podiums |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''Wins''' |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd place''' |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd place''' ! Fastest laps ! Titles |- | colspan=2| World Supersport Championship | 2000–2004, 2007–2009 | 76 | 3 | 23 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| 7 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 10 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 6 | 6 | 2 |- | colspan=2| MotoGP | 2002–2004 | 20 | 0 | 0 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| 0 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 0 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 0 | 0 | 0 |- | colspan=2| World Superbike Championship | 2005–2006, 2010 | 53 | 0 | 6 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3 | 1 | 0 |- | colspan=2| British Superbike Championship | 2010 | 8 | 0 | 0 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| 0 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 0 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 0 | 0 | 0 |- ! colspan=3| Total ! 157 ! 3 ! 29 ! 8 ! 12 ! 9 ! 7 ! 2 |}

===Supersport World Championship===

====Races by year==== (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! Bike ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Pos ! Pts |- ! 2000 ! Kawasaki |style="background:#efcfff;"| AUS Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| JPN 8 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 4 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 13 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| GER 17 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SMR 7 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 8 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| EUR 13 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| NED 10 |style="background:#efcfff;"| GER Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 6 | | | ! 10th ! 60 |- ! 2001 ! Kawasaki |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 11 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| AUS 3 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| JPN 3 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ''ITA'' 4 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 10 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GER 3 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SMR 8 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| EUR 2 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GER 3 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NED 2 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 4 | | | |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''149''' |- ! 2002 ! Kawasaki |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 5 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''AUS''' 1 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| RSA 1 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| JPN 7 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 4 |style="background:#efcfff;"| GBR Ret |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GER 2 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SMR 6 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| GBR 18 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER 4 |style="background:#efcfff;"| NED Ret |style="background:#efcfff;"| ITA Ret | | ! 5th ! 126 |- ! 2004 ! Yamaha | SPA | AUS | SMR | ITA | GER | GBR | GBR |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ''NED'' 3 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| FRA 6 | | | | ! 12th ! 36 |- ! 2007 ! Honda | QAT | AUS | EUR |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| SPA 2 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NED 2 | ITA | GBR | SMR | CZE | GBR | GER | ITA | FRA | ! 17th ! 40 |- ! 2008 ! Honda |style="background:#efcfff;"| QAT Ret |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''AUS''' 1 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| '''SPA''' 19 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| NED 1 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 4 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| GER 1 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| SMR 1 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''CZE'' 2 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ''GBR'' 3 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| EUR 2 |style="background:#efcfff;"| ITA Ret |style="background:#ffffbf;"| FRA 1 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| POR 2 | |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#ffffbf;"| '''214''' |- ! 2009 ! Honda |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''AUS'' 2 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ''QAT'' 2 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 13 |style="background:#efcfff;"| NED Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| RSA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| USA 7 |style="background:#efcfff;"| SMR Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 10 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| CZE 10 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER 7 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| FRA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| POR 11 ! 6th ! 119 |}

===Grand Prix motorcycle racing===

====Races by year==== (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Year ! Class ! Bike ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! Pos ! Pts |- ! 2002 ! MotoGP ! Kawasaki | JPN | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | BRA | PAC |style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAL 19 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| AUS 17 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| VAL 12 | | ! 26th ! 4 |- ! 2003 ! MotoGP ! Kawasaki |style="background:#cfcfff;"| JPN 17 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| RSA 16 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 15 |style="background:#efcfff;"| FRA Ret |style="background:#cfcfff;"| ITA 16 |style="background:#efcfff;"| CAT Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| NED 14 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| GBR 17 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| GER 19 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| CZE 16 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| POR 21 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| BRA 18 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| PAC 16 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| MAL 16 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 15 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| VAL 18 | | ! 26th ! 4 |- ! {{MGP|2004}} ! MotoGP ! Moriwaki | RSA | SPA | FRA |style="background:#cfcfff;"| ITA 17 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| CAT 14 | NED | BRA | GER | GBR |style="background:#cfcfff;"| CZE 16 | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | | ! 27th ! 2 |- ! 2007 ! MotoGP ! Ilmor GP |style="background:#efcfff;"| QAT Ret | SPA | TUR | CHN | FRA | ITA | CAT | GBR | NED | GER | USA | CZE | RSM | POR | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL ! NC ! 0 |}

===Superbike World Championship===

====Races by year==== (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- !valign="middle" rowspan=2| Year !valign="middle" rowspan=2| Bike !colspan=2| 1 !colspan=2| 2 !colspan=2| 3 !colspan=2| 4 !colspan=2| 5 !colspan=2| 6 !colspan=2| 7 !colspan=2| 8 !colspan=2| 9 !colspan=2| 10 !colspan=2| 11 !colspan=2| 12 !colspan=2| 13 !rowspan=2| Pos !rowspan=2| Pts |- ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 ! R1 ! R2 |- ! 2005 ! Yamaha |style="background:#dfffdf;"| QAT 4 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| QAT 9 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 5 |style="background:#efcfff;"| AUS Ret |style="background:#efcfff;"| SPA Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 8 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| EUR 13 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| EUR 9 |style="background:#efcfff;"| SMR Ret |style="background:#efcfff;"| SMR Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| CZE 10 |style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 7 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| NED 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| NED 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER 6 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| ITA 16 |style="background:#ffffff;"| ITA C |style="background:#dfffdf;"| FRA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| FRA 7 | | ! 8th ! 156 |- ! 2006 ! Yamaha |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| QAT 3 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| QAT 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 9 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 10 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 9 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 6 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| EUR 5 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| EUR 4 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| SMR 16 |style="background:#ffffbf;"| ''SMR'' 1 |style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE Ret |style="background:#efcfff;"| CZE Ret |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GBR 4 |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GBR 3 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NED 2 |style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NED 2 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER 4 |style="background:#efcfff;"| GER Ret |style="background:#ffdf9f;"| ITA 3 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA 4 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| FRA 18 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| FRA 5 | | ! 5th ! 250 |- ! 2010 ! BMW |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 15 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUS 15 |style="background:#efcfff;"| POR Ret |style="background:#cfcfff;"| POR 20 |style="background:#dfffdf;"| SPA 15 |style="background:#cfcfff;"| SPA 16 | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | RSA | RSA | USA | USA | SMR | SMR | CZE | CZE | GBR | GBR | GER | GER | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA ! 27th ! 3 |}

===British Superbike Championship===

==References== {{reflist}}

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

{{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