Bartlett tenth in opening round of WDC
June 9, 2013,by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association
Reims, France — Champagne corks were popping in the clubhouse at Hippodrome de Reims to celebrate the opening round of the World Driving Championship, contested here in the capital of the Champagne Region of France.
Jason Bartlett inspects the USA driving colors designed by the host country, France, that he carried into battle on day one of the World Driving Championship in Reims, France.
Alas the toasts were not for the drivers in the North American contingent, the USA’s Jason Bartlett or Canada’s Trevor Henry. The pair could only muster a second and fourth, respectively, as their best efforts in the opening round, raced over the 1,200 meter surface at the track located about a 90-minute drive from Paris.
Honors on opening day went to Pierre Vercruysse, whose five drives resulted in two wins and three runner-up finishes, which set a torrid pace for the field of 12 of the world’s most successful drivers.
The remaining races were won by Sweden’s Bjorn Goop and Spain’s Antonio Frontera Pocovi.
In his runner-up finish in the day’s fourth division of the Championship, Bartlett drove Tun Winner from post No. 4 to the top in the very first strides and appeared to be strong over nearly every centimeter of the 2,450 meter distance — just to be nipped by Vercruysse’s mount in the shadow of the winning post.
USTA/John Pawlak photos
Kristen Bartlett shows the height of French fashion — T-shirts she designed and distributed to the U.S. fans who are in France to follow the World Driving Championship.
“I had trouble pulling his (ear) plugs, and he almost went off-stride deep in the stretch,” Bartlett said after the race. “I learned today that keeping a horse trotting is the best thing because so many are disqualified (and thus earn only one point). These French trotters are okay to drive, but some will just pull on you and most aren’t as good gaited as our (North American) trotters.
“Tomorrow, I’ve just got to keep them all trotting.”
The drivers ended their day with a visit to a local champagne “cave” and enjoyed dinner at a nearby chateau. On Monday, round two will be raced at Caen, France, located not far from the Normandy beaches assaulted by the allied armies on June 6, 1944.
It sounds as if it’s a good time for the American and Canadian forces to launch an assault on the 2013 World Driving Championship.
Here are the standings after Round No. 1, through five of the scheduled 20 heats: 1. Pierre Vercruysse (France) 77 points; 2. Bjorn Goop (Sweden) 52; 3. Antonio Frontera Pocovi (Spain) 42; 4. Eirik Hoitomt (Norway) 40; 5. Enrico Bellei (Italy) 38; 6. Neil Day (Australia) 30; 7. Rene Kjaer (Denmark) 28; 8. Mika Forss (Finland) 26, 9. Gerhard Mayr (Austria) 26; 10. Jason Bartlett (USA) 24; 11. Trevor Henry (Canada) 14; 12. David Butcher (New Zealand) 12.
- Bartlett picks up a second in Round 2 of WDC (Monday, June 10, 2013)
It took only one race to determine that day two of the 2013 World Driving Championship would be better for the United States representative, Jason Bartlett, who finished a strong second in the first of four heats raced at the 1-1/4 mile track located only a few furlongs from the Normandy beaches so pivotal to winning World War II.
- Bartlett steers a winner in World Driving Championship (Wednesday, June 12, 2013)
Jason Bartlett of the United States found room in the long stretch of Angers Racecourse to capture the first victory for North America in the World Driving Championship on Wednesday afternoon.
- Vercruysse locks up WDC; Bartlett aims for third (Thursday, June 13, 2013)
Pierre Vercruysse locked up victory for the home team, guaranteeing himself enough points to win the World Driving Championship for France.
- World Driving Championship concludes in France (Saturday, June 15, 2013)
The day belonged to Italy’s Enrico Bellei, but the World Driving Championship belongs to France’s Pierre Vercruysse.