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Denmark's Jørgensen wins World Driving Championship
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Oslo, Norway --- Denmark’s Birger Jørgensen had won 21 driving titles in his native country, but not until Wednesday night (May 20) had he won a World Driving Championship. Two victories -- in the first two races on the final night’s card at Oslo’s Bjerke Travbane -- put Jørgensen into the lead ahead of New Zealand’s Peter Ferguson, a lead the Dane would not relinquish.

Birger Jorgensen (USTA/John Pawlak)
World Driving Champion Birger Jørgensen was the first Dane to win the title.

“I would rank this as one of the highlights of my career,” the soft-spoken Jørgensen said during a post-race interview. “I was lucky to be part of this.”

No driver representing Denmark had won in the 23-year history of the event.

Ferguson had led much of the way, but the talented Kiwi couldn’t withstand Jørgensen’s closing kick. Ferguson finished 16 points behind the champion, 164-148, in the final standings.

The USA’s Jason Bartlett never really built any momentum during the 20-heat tournament, but did score a closing-night victory, in the 20th and final heat, to push ahead of the defending world champion, Christophe Martens, and finish sixth.

Jason Bartlett (USTA/John Pawlak)

USTA/John Pawlak photos

Jason Bartlett was in the winner's circle on Wednesday, the third time he had been on that hallowed ground in the 2009 World Driving Championship.
“Everything about the Driving Championship has been wonderful,” Bartlett said after winning his race on Wednesday, in dramatic off-the-pace fashion over a rain-splashed Bjerke track. “Everyone was wonderful, and the competition was something I’ll never forget -- and I made lots of great friends.

“I wish I had some of my drives back,” Bartlett said later in the evening. “A couple of them just went backwards, and I know that’s just racing, but I know I could have done better.”

Eirik Høitomt, who had won the fourth round, scored the other victory on Wednesday, and coupled that with a second, seventh and scratch to finish third in the standings with 147 points. He was the “biggest mover” on Wednesday, catapulting from fifth to third.

The next World Driving Championship will be hosted by the United States of America; it will take place in early August 2011. Birger Jørgensen was asked if he would come to America to defend his championship, and quickly answered, with a smile, “Yes, I will.”

Here are the final standings, with the winner of each round indicated in boldface type:

The 2009 World Driving Championship
Final Standings

Rank

Driver

Country

Rnd. 1

Rnd. 2

Rnd. 3

Rnd. 4

Rnd. 5

Tot.

1.

Birger Jørgensen

Denmark

33

23

37

28

43

164

2.

Peter Ferguson

N. Zealand

26

45

27

35

15

148

3.

Eirik Høitomt

Norway

24

29

17

42

35

147

4.

Roland Hűlskath

Germany

26

24

39

28

21

138

5.

Bjørn Goop

Sweden

23

37

36

19

21

136

6.

Jason Bartlett

USA

18

24

32

16

37

127

7.

Christophe Martens

Belgium

35

16

15

41

13

120

8.

Brad Forward

Canada

35

19

9

17

16

96

9.

Imre Fazekas

Hungary

25

12

22

20

14

93

10.

Gareth Rattray

Australia

4

34

16

9

26

89
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