Kawasaki rider Andrew Pitt slashed a full 1.5-seconds off his best lap time of yesterday to fulfil his promise of climbing up the qualifying order, claiming a position on the fifth row of the starting grid for tomorrow’s season-closing Valencia GP.

The Australian former World Supersport champion qualified in 18th position, for his best-yet grid position since he first rode the new lime-green Ninja ZX-RR two races ago. Pitt took over from factory tester Akira Yanagawa, after the Japanese rider was sidelined by injury in a crash in the machine’s debut race at Motegi in Japan.

Pitt’s improving performance even over the two days of practice at Valencia reflects not only his own growing familiarity with the fastest bike he has ever ridden, but also a rapid program of machine development within the Kawasaki pit. The team has a third variation of chassis here for the last GP of 2002, and has also made strides in setting up the innovative flat-slide fuel injection system to improve throttle response. Improvement this afternoon also came from Pitt himself, after revising his riding style to suit the sheer power of his machine.

Tomorrow’s Valencia GP concludes the first phase of development for the new 990cc prototype Ninja, which will take its place on the grid next year for a full season of racing.

Andrew Pitt – 18th 1’35.107: "We really haven’t changed the bike much since yesterday, we just decided that I needed to try and ride the bike the way it needs to be ridden. I have tried to concentrate on going through the corners a little bit slower so I can open the throttle more, and that’s really where the time is coming from, opening the throttle harder and harder each time, and using the power of the bike. It feels a bit easier doing it that way rather than going through the corners so fast, and it’s definitely more fun when you’re doing a good lap time and you are on the first page of the qualifying list. I am really happy with the progress we’ve made. My aim tomorrow is to have fun out there, and not be on my own again!"

Harald Eckl - Team Manager: "We have worked a lot on Andrew’s riding style. Slowly but surely, he starts to understand how he has to ride the bike, that he has to carry less corner speed and open the throttle earlier. Andrew is the kind of guy who tries very hard to understand and use all the input. He has a long way to go still, but his progress and today’s performance confirms my confidence in him. Even though the steps seem to be small, he keeps improving and growing into the big bike riding style. For tomorrow, I hope he will have the chance to be with a group of riders. In his two races so far, he was always trailing the field in last position, which made it difficult to keep motivated. In racing with others, you learn more than anywhere else!"