Tyler Lopes has big plans in store this summer.

If all goes according to plan, the Bermudian hopes to fulfil an ambition of competing as a professional harness racing driver in the United States.

“I want to see if I can start to pick up drives, which is tough because you have to get out there, drive good races and show these trainers that you can take their horse and win with it,” Lopes told The Royal Gazette.

The 31-year-old moved to New Jersey to enhance his chances of success but admits it has been a steep learning curve working under world-renowned trainer Marcus Melander, whose horses won 27 races and earned nearly $10 million last year.

“I have been here for a few years working for Marcus Melander as one of his second trainers, but it has always been my intention to try and drive professionally,” Lopes said.

“That’s why I came here, but I didn’t know too much about the industry outside of doing the ponies in Bermuda.

“I really didn’t have too much knowledge so I wanted to go to someone like Marcus, who at the time was someone up and coming, and just learn as much as I can especially about the trotters as back home we specialise in pacers.

“I am not above learning before I try to do something, so I wanted to learn as much as I could from him and just take my time while I’m ready start to drive a little bit.”

Over the past few years Lopes has done a juggling act between working under Melander and trying to spend more time in the sulky at the racetrack.

“I have been trying to balance both worlds, working for him and trying to get my name out to drive a bit, which is quite tough,” he said.

“It’s really difficult to break in at any of the tracks, so I have just been taking my time and Marcus has helped me out a lot.

“He gave me tons of qualifying drives because you have to do so many qualifying races before you can drive. You have to be approved by the judges on all of that so that usually takes some time.

“It was a big help when Marcus started giving me some horses to qualify and that really helps my confidence a lot, having good horses to drive for him that I knew.

“They know what they’re doing so it really helped me to focus on just driving them and doing well with them because I knew them so well. I didn’t have to think too much about the horse.”

Lopes has earned $6,000 in eight starts to date as a driver with a best finish of second since obtaining a racing licence.

While he enjoys training horses at Melander’s stable, Lopes firmly believes that driving is his true calling.

“I feel like this is what am best at out of everything I have done with the horses,” he said.

“I feel like this is where I am most talented and I really trust the feeling I get in my hands and what that feeling is telling me and what the horse is telling me.

“I would really love it if this can roll over and be full-time driving. It’s been a long time coming, but I am hoping that towards the end of the summer here I can start diving in a little deeper and seeing how far we can go with it.”