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Ferguson continues on top in the World Driving Championship
Monday, May 18, 2009 - by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Oslo, Norway --- Belgium’s Christophe Martens began like a house afire, Norway’s Eirik Høitomt won the fourth of five rounds and the USA’s Jason Bartlett couldn’t make up any ground in the fourth round of the World Driving Championship, raced on Monday night (May 17) at Sorlandets Travpark in Kristiansand, Norway.

Eirik Hoitomt (Det Norske Travselskap)

Det Norske Travselskap

Eirik Høitomt was the winner of the fourth round, by a scant one point over Christophe Martens

But when the dust had settled after the penultimate round, New Zealand’s Peter Ferguson, who twice finished second on Monday, retained the top position and a 133 to 117 lead over Germany’s Roland Hűlskath. The latter began the round in fourth position after having won round number three at Jarlsberg this past Saturday.

Bartlett couldn’t find traction on Monday. His mounts finished eighth, 10th (as a favorite), sixth and third. His 90 points remain seventh best, and he is 43 points behind Ferguson’s lead.

Eirik Høitomt had far and away his best single round among the four raced to date. He capped three third place finishes with a win in the nightcap on Monday, and will now be considered a factor when the final round of four heats are raced on Wednesday night at Oslo’s Bjerke Travpark.

Martens won the first two races on Monday, but then finished ninth and sat while his fourth division mount was scratched. Those results dropped him back to sixth position, although he is in theory still alive to win his second World Driving Championship title.

Here are the standings after the fourth round of the 24th World Driving Championship, with the winner of each round indicated by boldface type:

The 2009 World Driving Championship
Standings after four of five rounds

Rank

Driver

Country

Rnd. 1

Rnd. 2

Rnd. 3

Rnd. 4

Points

1.

Peter Ferguson

New Zealand

26

45

27

35

133

2.

Birger Jørgensen

Denmark

33

23

37

28

121

3.

Roland Hűlskath

Germany

26

24

39

28

117

4.

Bjørn Goop

Sweden

23

37

36

19

115

5.

Eirik Høitomt

Norway

24

29

17

42

112

6.

Christophe Martens

Belgium

35

16

15

41

107

7.

Jason Bartlett

United States

18

24

32

16

90

8.

Brad Forward

Canada

35

19

9

17

80

9.

Imre Fazekas

Hungary

25

12

22

20

79

10.

Gareth Rattray

Australia

4

34

16

9

63
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