The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider claimed victory in the penultimate round at Magny-Cours in France on Sunday to take an unassailable 30-point lead in the championship and claim his second World Supersport title.

Pitt first won the Supersport title in 2001, and his second was the seventh successive time for the Ten Kate Honda outfit.

Starting from third on the grid alongside main rival and team mate Jonathon Rea, Pitt rode his luck early.

A slip up by Rea on the ninth lap worked heavily in Pitt’s favour and he survived a long battle with Suzuki rider Barry Veneman and fellow Aussie Josh Brookes to take the race and the title.

“Well, you can’t say I didn’t win a race with this championship,” Pitt said after the win.

“Jonny 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.”

Team manager Ronald ten Kate said it was a huge relief to have secured the championship title before the final race of the season.

“It’s been another roller coaster of a World Supersport race but I’m just so happy it’s done now,” he said.

“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.”

Pitt’s team mate Rea retained second place in the series despite finishing tenth and will be looking to make it a one-two finish for the HANNspree Ten Kate outfit at the final round in Portugal on November 2.