British MotoGP: Andrew Pitt eyes MotoGP return after Yamaha test

Aussie Andrew Pitt says he would love to return to the MotoGP world championship in the future after landing a testing job with Michelin and Yamaha. 

Pitt made his first appearance on board a factory YZR-M1 last week at the Catalunya MotoGP test session in Spain, where he has been drafted in to help Michelin with tyre development following Bridgestone’s impressive start to the new 800cc MotoGP era.

But Andrew Pitt is hoping for a more permanent place in the premier class after his nightmare with the British-based Ilmor MotoGP squad.

Pitt was signed with Jeremy McWilliams to campaign the 2007 MotoGP season but was left reeling when team owner Mario Illien axed the team after just one race due to a lack of sponsorship.

Having tested the impressive factory YZR-M1 Andrew Pitt said his desire to land a competitive MotoGP ride hadn’t wilted.

“I was hoping something would come up for the rest of the year and looking forward to next year with the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda squad in World Superbike but that hasn’t happened.

“Assuming that James (Toseland) moves on and (Roberto) Rolfo won’t be on a superbike next year there could be a couple of slots there but Keenan (Sofuoglu) wants to move up from World Supersport and he deserves chance.  I’m just waiting for someone to hurt themselves,” said Pitt, who said he wasn’t surprised to have been called up by Fiat Yamaha boss Davide Brivio to test for them, even though he was unceremoniously axed from Yamaha’s World Superbike team at the end of 2006.

“I suppose it’s a different crew and bunch of people. It is Yamaha but it’s a separate thing. It’s not Yamaha Europe here.

“Davide said I was the obvious guy they wanted and if I was interested. He was trying to push for me on the second Yamaha team last year but for one reason or another it didn’t happen.

And Andrew Pitt added: “I’ve never had any problems with Davide before or the Japanese guys. Davide called me for this and asked if I was interested and I said ‘f**k yeah. If you had to be testing anything you wouldn’t want it to be anything other than this thing,” added Pitt.