World Supersport Championship Series
Round 12: Magny-Cours, France
October 5, 2008
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR rider Andrew Pitt clinched the 2008 World Supersport championship by taking the win in a thrilling 12-round race at France’s Magny-Cours. Pitt’s second world title—he was the last non-Honda rider to win the title in 2001—is the seventh successive championship for the Ten Kate team and the Honda CBR600RR.
Pitt’s HANNspree Ten Kate Honda teammate, Jonathan Rea, started the 22-lap race from the front row of the grid, and still had a mathematical chance to win the championship. But Rea was taken out of contention at the tight Adelaide hairpin on lap nine, while lying in third place, ruining his chances at the season crown. Pitt was involved in a thrilling, race-long battle with Barry Veneman and fellow Honda rider Josh Brookes. But the 32-year-old Australian eased away in the latter stages of the race, winning by more than one second at the flag.
Rea, meanwhile, remounted and, despite losing first gear in the crash, was able to climb back to tenth place. He retains second place in the series, with the final race due in Portugal on 2 November.
American Josh Hayes also raced in the Supersport class here, his second race in the series. Hayes, who rides an Erion Honda CBR600RR in the U.S., was on the Parkalgar Racing CBR600RR. Josh had qualified in 12th, and by the end of the first lap he was in 11th. Josh is no stranger to close racing, but mid-pack in the World Supersport series is a battleground indeed. Hayes was pushed back to 13th by the midpoint in the race, but in the closing ;aps came on strong, moving up three posisions in three laps right at the close, and finishing an impressive tenth overall.
Andrew Pitt: “Well, you can’t say I didn’t win a race with this championship! Jonny [Rea] missed out today and I’m sure it would’ve been a tough battle right to the end. I didn’t actually know that he was out until I worked it out by looking at the big TV screen! I needed a bit of luck, having been taken out myself a couple of times this season. But I have never enjoyed a season as much as this—the team is just a fantastic bunch of guys to work for, and the way everyone pulled together yesterday to put my bike back together was just typical of the spirit here. I’d like to thank Ronald and Gerrit [ten Kate] for having the faith in me and giving me such a competitive machine. I’m happy to repay that faith today.”
Jonathan Rea: “I felt I could have run at whatever pace I wanted today. I just found it difficult to pass Andrew down the straights, and I doubt I would have broken away. I’ll put what happened down as a racing incident, and I’m not one to bear a grudge—it’s just a shame I won’t be able to battle for the title in Portugal. But congratulations to Andrew, who’s been on it all season. He’s a worthy champion and I’m really happy for him and the whole team.”
Ronald ten Kate: “It’s been another roller coaster of a World Supersport race but I’m just so happy it’s done now. Big congratulations to Andrew and the whole Supersport crew for winning the title in such style. This makes number seven, of course, and they have all been truly magnificent. I feel sorry for Jonny being taken out of the race and having his title chances taken away from him. But we are still one and two in the points table and we’ll be doing everything we can to keep it that way in Portugal.”
World Supersport Results
1.A. Pitt (HONDA)
2. B. Veneman (SUZ)
3. J. Brookes (HONDA)
4. M. Lagrive (HONDA)
5. Van Keymeulen (SUZ)
6. Massimo Roccoli (YAM)
7.G. Nannelli (HONDA)
8. Fabien Foret (YAM)
9. J. Hayes (HONDA)
10. J. Rea (HONDA)
Supersport Standings
1. Andrew Pitt (HONDA) 194
2. Jonathan Rea (HONDA) 164
3. Josh Brookes (HONDA) 157
4. Broc Parkes (YAM) 139
5. Fabien Foret (YAM) 105
6. Joán Lascorz (HONDA) 105
7. Craig Jones (HONDA) 100
8. Barry Veneman (SUZ) 92
9. Robbin Harms (HONDA) 71
10. Gianluca Nannelli (HONDA) 69