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Saturday, 23 September, 2000, 20:42 GMT 21:42 UK
Loram crowned world champ
Mark Loram
Loram is Britain's first world champion for eight years
While Britain was revelling in Olympic glory at Sydney on Saturday - another British world hero was being created in Poland.

Mark Loram, who rides for Poole Pirates, was crowned World Speedway Champion at the Grand Prix of Europe.

Loram has not won a race all season but his consistent scoring meant he was virtually untouchable leading into the Poland race.

In the event he finished sixth and that proved enough to take the championship.


"I know the pressure was on and I was struggling at one stage, but I'm glad I didn't give up hope
  Mark Loram

Afterwards Loram said: "I always kept my belief. I didn't let the pressure get to me too much and I'm just pleased it's over.

"I know the pressure was on and I was struggling at one stage, but I'm glad I didn't give up hope."

Loram because the first Briton since Gary Havelock won the world title in 1992.

American Billy Hamill won the Poland Grand Prix, his second win of the season, and this was enough to ensure runner-up position in the overall championship.

  Mark Loram Factfile
Born in Malta on 12 January 1971
He has won the Swedish Grand Prix 1999, Danish Grand Prix 1997 and has twice been British champion
Lives in Stowmarket, Suffolk
He races with the Poole Pirates, but has won the National League with Hackney in 1988, league championship with Ipswich in 1989 and league title with Bradford in 1997

He just pipped Tony Rickardsson on the night and it meant the Swede, the world champion for the last two years, had to settle for third in this year's championship.

The championship is decided over six meetings.

Twenty-four riders take part and the race format is based on the 'knock-out' system, with the overall winner decided by the 24th heat.

Although Loram did not win a race all season, he scored consistently high and led the championship standings going into the final clash with 88 points, 12 clear of Rikardsson.

Loram also finished second in the Czech Republic and Sweden, third in the British Grand Prix in Coventry and fourth in Poland and Denmark.

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