andrew pitt is back....

[gomick]

in world supersport replacing fabien foret for the remainder of the season

from www.mcnes.com.au

Yamaha Motor Italia will enter three riders at round nine of the Supersport World Championship at the Assen circuit in The Netherlands (3-5 September) with former world champion Andrew Pitt joining the team in a one-round deal.

The Australian was initially approached to ride the team’s YZF-R6 as a replacement for the injured Fabien Foret. However the Frenchman is expected to have recovered sufficiently from the broken ankle he sustained last time out at Brands Hatch, so 2001 supersport world champion Pitt will line-up alongside regulars alongside Foret and Jurgen van den Goorbergh on the machine normally campaigned at selected rounds by Japanese rider Tekkyu Kayo.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to get back on a competitive bike with a good team,” declared Pitt, who rode full-time in MotoGP last season. “I’ve had a few outings in MotoGP this year (as a wild-card for the Moriwaki team) and feel that I am riding well, even if the package hasn’t allowed me to race at the front. I hope that I can adapt quickly to the 600 as I want to do well at Assen.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Andrew,” said team coordinator Massimo Meregalli. “He’s an experienced rider in this class and we know that he will have no problems with the close nature of the racing. He visited our workshops last week and we are planning a test prior to Assen for Andrew to get to know our bike and tyres and to minimize the adjustment time in Assen. When we originally spoke with Andrew it looked like Fabien would miss Assen. But he’s made good progress and the ankle is much better now. Fabien really wants to try to race this weekend and after having a long talk with him I am confident that he is fit enough to at least compete in Friday’s practice session; from there we can have a better idea of his condition".

[McLean Fan]

There's also talk of Yamaha Italia stepping up to WSBK with R1's next year. If Pitt acquits himself well in Supersport he could well be competing with Foret, vd Goorbergh, and Haga for one of the rides.

Personally I'd like to see he and Curtain on a couple of Yamaha Germany R1's next year.

Anyway, one step at a time.

[marcus]

great news for Pitty , obviously a bad loss for the series with Foret being out but at least they have put a rider that is full of talent on the bike.

I Hope he goes well

[N I Tram]

Where does 'replacing Foret' come from? Read the article - Pitt's in for one race (at the moment) alongside Foret and JvdG.

Good news for Andrew all the same, he's keeping his options open for next year - maybe Moriwaki will go full time, or a WSBK ride will open up, or perhaps someone else will come in for him.

[gomick]

i apologise N I Tram - he was INITIALLY asked to replace foret....

[BootsOntheSide]

Supersport is a bit of a comedown from MotoGP, surely? And McLean Fan, does he have to 'acquit himself', having won the thing? Still, it could be a means to an end.

Yamaha bikes haven't generally been competitive in any Superbike series in recent years, so it'd be a risk for any semi-works or independant team to run them - and surely too much of a risk for Haga to leave Renegade?

[marcus]

so Foret is still riding ????

I find that hard to believe but you never know , I havent kept up with his injuries and recovery , good news if he is though

[racer69]

Hmmm, including Pitt and Haga, that is 4 riders linked with the team for next year.......

Who says 2 for Superbikes and 2 for Supersports..

[gomick]

i reckon bring it on - ten kate should run 2 superbike & 2 supersport.... 4 aussies

[Hazza]

Muggeridge, Pitt, Vermulin, Mcoy - 4 bikes WSBK effort, bring it on!!!

Ten Aussie Kate!