Pitt to Ride for Reitwagen BMW in 2010 WSBK Season

Australian motorcycle racer Andrew Pitt has been confirmed by the new Reitwagen BMW team as their rider for the 2010 World Superbike Championship season, putting to rest the rumor the team will sign Matt Mladin as their second rider. Pitt, who will return to the WSBK for the first time in four years, will ride a BMW S1000RR alongside the already confirmed Roland Resch.

Double WSS Champion and WSB race winner Andrew Pitt last time competed in the WSBK Championship in the 2006 season when he was dropped by the factory Yamaha team.

Following a brief appearance with Ilmor in MotoGP, Pitt stepped back to World Supersports in 2008, where he secured a second title for Ten Kate Honda. However, after struggling to defend his crown this season, Pitt lost his spot in the team to Michele Pirro.

The same statement that revealed Pitt as one of the Reitwagen BMW racer also stated that Johan Stigefelt will be the new technical manager for the team, who will become the first satellite team to prepare BMWs in 2010.

The announcement comes in the same week it was confirmed that Stigefelt’s own project, Stiggy Racing, has been forced to fold. Stigefelt will therefore be joined by other key members of the Stiggy team for 2010, while former racer Peter Goddard will serve as chassis engineer.

Pitt and Resch are now reportedly undergoing a physical training programme together at Andrew Pitt's base and they will begin tests and development work in January at Eastern Creek Raceway in Australia.