Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki has supplied high-flying Australian rider Andrew Pitt with newly-developed gearboxes for his bid to clinch the World Supersport Championship title in the final round at Imola in Italy this Sunday.

Pitt, who is second in the championship and 11 points behind leader Paolo Casoli, will test and evaluate three new gearboxes on his works Kawasaki ZX-6R in the opening practice and qualifying sessions at Imola on Friday.

"It's crunch time in the championship, and Kawasaki are throwing their support behind me and doing everything they can to help me win," said Pitt.

"These new gearboxes from Japan will have a greater variety of internal ratios, which should make fourth and fifth gearing better and produce quicker lap times."

"We'll be trying all the gearboxes on Friday to find out which one works best at this particular track."

The 25-year-old, who is in his second championship season with the German-based Kawasaki team managed by former 250cc grand prix rider Harald Eckl, goes to Imola as a title contender after scoring points in all previous 10 rounds of the 2001 series, including six top-three podium finishes.

Italian Casoli leads with 147 points on a Belgarda Yamaha, followed by Pitt on 136, and the only other rider who can claim the title is German Jorg Teuchert, who has a tally of 126 on a Wilbers Suspension Yamaha.

The 4.9km Imola circuit is hosting a championship round for the first time, but Pitt had the opportunity to test his four-stroke machine at the track during July.

"It's a fast track with several 'blind' corners where you go up the crest of the hills as you're turning," he said.

"You're pulling the bike from side-to-side quite a lot, so physically it's going to be a tough race on everyone."

"Basically it's a 'one-line' race-track with limited passing places, so I need to qualify up the front and get a good run into the first corner."

Should Pitt win the race at Imola, and score the maximum 25 points, he will claim the title if Casoli finishes no better than fourth, which is worth 13. Pitt can also win the championship with second place, so long as Casoli finishes eighth or lower.

"There are various equations, but in reality all I can do is try and win the race (at Imola) and see where Casoli ends up," said Pitt.

"I've given myself a shot at the championship by being consistent all season so this weekend we'll try and keep doing what we've been doing because that's what works best for us."

Pitt, who finished 10th in his debut season in the series in 2000, said a crucial factor in his improvement this year was renewing his partnership with his former Team Kawasaki Australia crew chief Scott Breedin, from Victoria.

Breedin, who previously oversaw Pitt's victory in the Australian Supersport Championship in 1999, joined Eckl's team this year.

"Scott (Breedin) knows the bike set-up I like, and the settings we're running seem to work well at most types of circuits," said Pitt.

Pitt, who began his racing career in motocross 14 years ago, was born in Kempsey, NSW, and is now based on Queensland's Gold Coast when in Australia.

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after round 10 of 11):

1.  Paolo Casoli (Italy) Yamaha 147
2.  Andrew Pitt (Australia) Kawasaki 136
3.  Jorg Teuchert (Germany) Yamaha 126
4.  Kevin Curtin (Australia) Honda 100
5.  Jamie Whitham (GB) Yamaha 90
6.  Pere Riba (Spain) Honda 83
7.  Karl Muggeridge (Australia) Suzuki 72
8.  Fabien Foret (France) Honda 65
9.  Fabrizio Pirovano (Italy) Suzuki 62
10. Iain MacPherson (GB) Kawasaki 57
POINTS ALLOCATION: 25 (1st), 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (15th)