Pitt and McWilliams back in MotoGP
Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:44 pm
Jeremy McWilliams and Andrew Pitt will both return to the MotoGP grid next season, having been confirmed as part of a two-bike line-up at the new Ilmor team.
Despite being injured in a testing crash at Valencia last month, in which he broke his left femur, the Irishman will be back in the arena where he has enjoyed his most high-profile success, after a couple of years out pursuing superbike alternatives. Pitt, meanwhile, moves over from Yamaha Italy's WSBK team, where he struggled to live up to the reputation he had previously forged on the superbike and supersport circuit.
At 42, McWilliams is one of the sport's most experienced riders, but he does not feel that his age will count against him in a field increasingly populated by teenagers.
"I'm very pleased to be part of a new team and, obviously, I'm delighted to be back in MotoGP," he insisted, "With Mario [Ilien] and Ilmor, it's a very different situation. You can see that he's not a man who's used to coming second. He takes his racing incredibly seriously - having spent some time with him and the team, his passion and dedication is evident everywhere. He's a legend but, whilst I know his expectations in terms of hard work are high, he's realistic about what we can achieve over the next year.
"We have a brand new bike and very little testing time - I think we have a very good product to work with, but there is a lot of developing that needs to be done. It's going to take time and it's going to be hard, but I'm really looking forward to it. At the end of the day, that's what MotoGP is all about – hard work. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!"
Both McWilliams and Pitt have become familiar with the Ilmor X³ SRT having tested the bike at Jerez and Valencia in recent weeks, and were selected not only their proven riding skills, but the invaluable experience they bring to the team.
"As a fledgling team, the main reason behind signing McWilliams and Pitt was for their skills in further developing the overall bike package and making us more competitive as a team," team owner Ilien confirmed, "Both riders come well equipped with a huge amount of experience to bring to the team as we start out. I've said since the beginning of this project that we are on a steep learning curve and I believe that McWilliams and Pitt will really help us begin to make our mark on the grid."
Pitt - at 30, some twelve years younger than his team-mate - clocked up a lot of miles with Kawasaki's MotoGP team back in 2004, and is looking forward to returning to the grand prix scene.
"I'm delighted that everything is confirmed now – I can't wait to get back out on the track," he insisted, "I really feel like I wasn't able to reach my potential before and now I'm lucky enough to get another opportunity with a new team on what promises to be a great bike. You only need to take a quick look around the Ilmor headquarters to see how seriously these guys take things - it dwarfs everything I"ve ever seen before."
Despite being injured in a testing crash at Valencia last month, in which he broke his left femur, the Irishman will be back in the arena where he has enjoyed his most high-profile success, after a couple of years out pursuing superbike alternatives. Pitt, meanwhile, moves over from Yamaha Italy's WSBK team, where he struggled to live up to the reputation he had previously forged on the superbike and supersport circuit.
At 42, McWilliams is one of the sport's most experienced riders, but he does not feel that his age will count against him in a field increasingly populated by teenagers.
"I'm very pleased to be part of a new team and, obviously, I'm delighted to be back in MotoGP," he insisted, "With Mario [Ilien] and Ilmor, it's a very different situation. You can see that he's not a man who's used to coming second. He takes his racing incredibly seriously - having spent some time with him and the team, his passion and dedication is evident everywhere. He's a legend but, whilst I know his expectations in terms of hard work are high, he's realistic about what we can achieve over the next year.
"We have a brand new bike and very little testing time - I think we have a very good product to work with, but there is a lot of developing that needs to be done. It's going to take time and it's going to be hard, but I'm really looking forward to it. At the end of the day, that's what MotoGP is all about – hard work. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!"
Both McWilliams and Pitt have become familiar with the Ilmor X³ SRT having tested the bike at Jerez and Valencia in recent weeks, and were selected not only their proven riding skills, but the invaluable experience they bring to the team.
"As a fledgling team, the main reason behind signing McWilliams and Pitt was for their skills in further developing the overall bike package and making us more competitive as a team," team owner Ilien confirmed, "Both riders come well equipped with a huge amount of experience to bring to the team as we start out. I've said since the beginning of this project that we are on a steep learning curve and I believe that McWilliams and Pitt will really help us begin to make our mark on the grid."
Pitt - at 30, some twelve years younger than his team-mate - clocked up a lot of miles with Kawasaki's MotoGP team back in 2004, and is looking forward to returning to the grand prix scene.
"I'm delighted that everything is confirmed now – I can't wait to get back out on the track," he insisted, "I really feel like I wasn't able to reach my potential before and now I'm lucky enough to get another opportunity with a new team on what promises to be a great bike. You only need to take a quick look around the Ilmor headquarters to see how seriously these guys take things - it dwarfs everything I"ve ever seen before."
Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:46 pm
I WANT MCCOY 
Carn sponsors
Carn sponsors
Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:35 pm
yea...i thought McCoy was gunna be 1 of em...
Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:48 pm
Didn't McWilliams slag off about Pitt awhile back?
Pitt took him out in a turn one incident and McWilliams said some like
" I hate having to start at the back of the grid, it's where all the dangerous people who can't ride are"
they should score points, only need 3 riders to crash out!!
Pitt took him out in a turn one incident and McWilliams said some like
" I hate having to start at the back of the grid, it's where all the dangerous people who can't ride are"
they should score points, only need 3 riders to crash out!!
Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:14 am
Bloody DORNA wanting more brits to be in GP. McCoy and Pitt would have been a great combo. I want to see Gary hang out his rear end 
...hang on that doesn't sound so good now that i have re read it 
...hang on that doesn't sound so good now that i have re read it
Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:24 am
Yeah, McWilliams is only there because DORNA wanted a Brit in MotoGP...so McCoy gets screwed again
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:15 am
Good for Pitty...
Bad luck for Gaz... hes's an awesome rider
Bad luck for Gaz... hes's an awesome rider
McCoy........memories
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:19 am
Yes I remember McCoy. 
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Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:42 am
I was really hoping to see mccoy back next year.
I bet hes pissed off that he did all that work for them last year riding around in the GPs coming last doing all their testing just to get shafted for next season.
I bet hes pissed off that he did all that work for them last year riding around in the GPs coming last doing all their testing just to get shafted for next season.
Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:02 am
MrStompy wrote:I was really hoping to see mccoy back next year.
I bet hes pissed off that he did all that work for them last year riding around in the GPs coming last doing all their testing just to get shafted for next season.
He did all the work because he was not contracted to any one unlike Pitt and McWilliams at the time.
It is dissapointing for McCoy but I am a fan of McWilliams and I hope he does well.
And as for Pitty I have always beena fan but have been a bit dissapointed with his form since leaving World Super Sports.
Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:54 am
Personally, I reckon they should have signed up McWilliams and McCoy and taken McDonald's on as a sponsor. 
Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:58 am
aardvark wrote:Personally, I reckon they should have signed up McWilliams and McCoy and taken McDonald's on as a sponsor.
Can they afford it after sponsoring you all these years...
Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:21 am
red_dave wrote:aardvark wrote:Personally, I reckon they should have signed up McWilliams and McCoy and taken McDonald's on as a sponsor.
Can they afford it after sponsoring you all these years...
Please dont mistake McDonalds for Donut-King
Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:52 pm
mfzx6r wrote:red_dave wrote:aardvark wrote:Personally, I reckon they should have signed up McWilliams and McCoy and taken McDonald's on as a sponsor.
Can they afford it after sponsoring you all these years...
Please dont mistake McDonalds for Donut-King
easy mistake an all....
maybe jase has special delas with both??
Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:17 am
aardvark wrote:Personally, I reckon they should have signed up McWilliams and McCoy and taken McDonald's on as a sponsor.
yeah... bit strange about not going with mccoy, i think riding style also may have a lot to do with it though, and mccoy has one of the more unusual riding styles.