Andrew Pitt has done it all.
He’s a former two-time World Supersport Champion, competed in MotoGP, in World Superbikes, in British Superbikes and now the 35 year old rider has announced he’s retiring from motorcycle racing following a shoulder injury he sustained at Brands Hatch in 2010 that caused irreversible nerve damage.
Pitt was the Australian Supersport Champion and runner up Superbike Champion, riding for Team Kawasaki Australia, which then led a three year contract with Kawasaki at an international level.
In 2001, in his second year of WSS he became the World Supersport Champion, followed by another season in WSS, after which he was recluted by Kawasaki’s MotoGP to compete in the final rounds of the season giving the green team its first ever points by taking 12th at Valencia.
He then signed on for the full 2003 season with the Kawasaki MotoGP team.
In 2004 he was riding for Moriwaki as part of their development programme.
In 2005 and 2006 rode for Yamaha in World Superbikes and in 2007 was back in WSS with a parenthesis in MotoGP on the fated Ilmor while being a test rider for both Yamaha and Michelin.
In 2008 he took his second World Supersport title with Ten Kate Honda, while in 2009 finished 6th-before returning to World Superbikes in 2010 with the debuting Reitwagen BMW team who disappeared after just a few rounds.
Pitt was left in a lurch but found a place in British Superbikes with Motorpoint Yamaha until the crash at Brands Hatch.
“When I first came to Europe in 2000 I could never have imagined I would spend 11 seasons racing in the World Championship.
It really has been a fun ride and I have gained lots of great memories, as well as some painful ones, along the way.
Winning the World Championships was something that I will have forever and never forget.
And riding some of the best machines in the world has been incredible.
” “I love motorcycles and riding them as fast as possible, and the best one has to be the 2007 M1 MotoGP machine.
I really enjoyed being part of that development and testing team.
It wasn’t the perfect ending and you can’t always choose how you go out but I am still in one piece and at least I have time to work on my cycling now.
I will miss the good days on the podium for sure but I will continue to ride in testing and training roles, as well as pursue my motorcycle magazine and television work.
I want to stay in the motorcycle industry and I still have the same passion for bikes now as I did when I was 10-years old.
I’d like to say a very special thank you to first of all my fans, who stuck with me in good years and not so good years.
Also, my family, particularly my father Carl, have always been there for me and backed me in my racing, from the days of us driving across Australia in a van to supporting me in MotoGP or WSBK paddocks, they have been fantastic.
And my personal sponsors who have stood by me always – Milspec Services, Premier Helmets, RST leathers and SIDI boots.
Thanks also to all of the thousands of officials, marshals, medics, volunteers, mechanics, crew members and journalists that have helped me over the years.
” Career Highlights:Career Highlights1996: 2nd Australian 250cc production Championship1997: Victorian Supersport Champion1998: 2nd Australian Supersport Championship1999: Australian Supersport Champion, 2nd Superbike – Kawasaki2000: 10th World Supersport Championship – Kawasaki2001: World Supersport Champion – Kawasaki2002: 5th World Supersport Championship – 3 races MotoGP (Kawasaki)2003: 26th MotoGP World Championship – Kawasaki2004: 12th World Supersport Championship – 3 races Motogp (Moriwaki)2005: 8th World Superbike Championship – Yamaha2006: 5th World Superbike Championship – Yamaha2007: 17th World Supersport Championship – Honda – 1 race Motogp (Ilmor)2008: World Supersport Champion – Honda2009: Sixth World Supersport Championship – Honda2010: WSBK and BSB