Jonathan Rea will be reunited with his former WorldSSP team-mate Andrew Pitt in the role of crew chief when he makes his switch to Pata Yamaha for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship, it has been confirmed

One of the most experienced figures in the Pata Yamaha box, Pitt currently brings years of experience competing in WorldSBK, MotoGP and WorldSSP to his current crew chief role to Andrea Locatelli.

However, following the news that Phil Marron is to join Toprak Razgatlioglu in making the switch to BMW over the winter, Pitt has been shifted over to Rea’s box in anticipation of the six-time WorldSBK Champion’s arrival.

The pair will come together for the first time this week when Rea throws his leg over the Yamaha R1 for the first time as part of a two-day test on Tuesday and Wednesday at Jerez, scene of this weekend’s season finale. 

“I can confirm that Andrew will come across to work with Jonathan,” said Paul Denning. “They’ve got a very close relationship that goes back many, many years. They’ve been teammates before but when Andrew was a rider, not a crew chief. 

“On top of that, we’ve got a very, very exciting crew chief coming to join the team to strengthen the whole project, who will work with ‘Loka’. That’ll be announced towards the end of November.”

Rea and Pitt raced as team-mates Ten Kate Honda upon the Ulsterman’s debut in the WorldSBK paddock competing in WorldSSP. On that occasion it was Pitt who’d reign supreme by winning the 2008 WorldSSP title before Rea graduated to 1000cc to begin on his journey to become the most successful WorldSBK rider of all time.