Mark Loram

Mark Roysten Gregory Loram (born 12 January 1971)[1] is a former British motorcycle speedway rider who won the World Speedway Championship in 2000 and won the British Championship in 1997, 1999, and 2001.

Mark Loram
Born (1971-01-12) 12 January 1971
Mtarfa, Malta
Nationality England
Current club information
Career statusRetired
Career history
United Kingdom
1987-1988Hackney Kestrels
1989, 2006-2009Ipswich Witches
1990-1994King's Lynn Stars
1995-1996Exeter Falcons
1997Bradford Dukes
1998Wolverhampton Wolves
1999-2000Poole Pirates
2001Peterborough Panthers
2002-2003Eastbourne Eagles
2004-2005Arena Essex Hammers
Poland
1992, 1999-2000Częstochowa
1993-1997Apator Toruń
1998, 2007KM Ostrów Wielkopolski
2001-2003Polonia Bydgoszcz
2004RKM Rybnik
2005Stal Gorzów
2006Unia Leszno
Sweden
1992-1997Bysarna
1999-2000Smederna
2001-2004Luxo Stars
2005-2006Piraterna
Individual honours
2000World Champion
1989National League Riders Champ
1991South African Champion
1994Commonwealth Champion
1997, 1999, 2001British Champion
1997Danish Grand Prix Winner
1999Overseas Champion
1999Swedish Grand Prix Winner
Team honours
1988National League
1997Elite League
2003Elite League KO Cup

Career

Born in Mtarfa, Malta, Mark Loram started his career with the Hackney Kestrels in 1987.[2] In 1999 Loram became the first rider in Speedway Grand Prix history to win a GP whilst being entered as a wild card, a feat only repeated three times since (as at the end of the 2012 season). He won two Grand Prix in his career; 1997 Danish Grand Prix in Vojens and 1999 when he won the Swedish Grand Prix in Linköping.

Loram became the Speedway World Champion in 2000 despite not winning any of the Grand Prix meetings held that year, the only rider to ever do so. However he was the only rider to reach the semi-finals in all six meetings which along with runner-up placings in the opening two rounds in the Czech Republic and Sweden as well as a third in Britain in Round 4 gave him enough points to secure his first and only world title. Loram scored 102 points over the six rounds to defeat 1996 champion Billy Hamill (who won the Czech Republic and European GP's) on 95 and defending champion Tony Rickardsson (who won in Poland) on 94. Loram's win saw him become the 7th British rider to win speedway's ultimate individual prize.

Loram has also been British Champion three times, in 1997, 1999 and 2001. In March 2007 Loram broke his thigh and dislocated his arm whilst riding in the opening fixture of the Elite League season for the Ipswich Witches. This ended his involvement in the sport for 2007, and he was unable to ride in 2008 and 2009. On 17 December 2009, Loram officially announced his retirement from speedway.

World Final Appearances

Speedway Grand Prix results
Year Position Points Best Finish Notes
1995 6th 77 3rd Third in British Grand Prix
1996 7th 58 2nd Second in Danish Grand Prix
1997 5th 81 Winner Won Danish Grand Prix
1998 10th 52 6th
1999 5th 71 Winner Won Swedish Grand Prix
2000 1st 102 2nd Only rider to make every semi-final
2001 9th 54 4th
2002 8th 97 3rd Third in Polish and Slovenian Grand Prix
2003 18th 32 11th
2004 17th 38 9th

World Longtrack Championship

Finals

  • 1990 -  GER Herxheim 15pts (10th)
  • 1991 -  CZE Marianske Lazne 8pts (10th)
  • 1992 -  GER Pfarrkirchen 18pts (5th)
  • 1993 -  GER Muhldorf 5pts (14th)
  • 1994 -  CZE Marianske Lazne 9pts (10th)

British Grasstrack Championship

First 1991 & 1993.

References
  1. Bamford, Robert (January 2004). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2004. NPI Media Group. ISBN 0-7524-2915-9.
  2. Fenn, C. (2003) Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight, Stroud: Tempus Publishing, ISBN 0-7524-2737-7
  3. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
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