Mark Fiora Explained

Mark Fiora
Nickname:Felix
Nationality:Australian
Birth Date:16 May 1962
Birth Place:Mount Barker, South Australia
Years1:1981
Career1:Scunthorpe Stags
Years2:1981-1982
Career2:Sheffield Tigers
Years3:1982-1984
Career3:Edinburgh Monarchs
Years4:1983
Career4:Leicester Lions
Years5:1984
Career5:Newcastle Diamonds
Years6:1984
Career6:Wolverhampton Wolves
Years7:1985, 1987-1988
Career7:Middlesbrough Tigers
Years8:1985
Career8:Reading Racers
Years9:1986
Career9:Long Eaton Invaders
Years10:1987-1988
Career10:Bradford Dukes
Years11:1988
Career11:Cradley Heathens
Years12:1988
Career12:Ipswich Witches
Indivyear1:1983, 1984, 1985, 1987
Indivhonour1:South Australian Champion
Teamyear1:1988
Teamhonour1:Australian Pairs Champion
Teamyear2:1985
Teamhonour2:Fours Championship winner

Mark Fiora (born 16 May 1962 in Mount Barker, South Australia) is a former Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a four time South Australian Champion, and winner of the Australian Best Pairs championship in 1988 with Craig Hodgson. Fiora also rode for 13 different teams in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1988.[1]

Career

Australia

"Felix" Fiora, as he was known, was one of the earliest graduates of Adelaide's Under-16 Sidewinders Speedway and started his senior racing career on South Australia's speedway's Rowley Park (Adelaide) and Riverview (Murray Bridge) and was seen by many as a possible successor to John Boulger as South Australia's best rider.

Mark Fiora impressed in his early years and his experience in the UK during 1981 and 1982 finally saw his potential tapped when he won the 1983 South Australian Championship at Speedway Park. He made it two in a row in 1984 at the North Arm Speedway in Adelaide and made it a hat trick of state title wins when he won again in 1985 at the Riverview Speedway. After finishing second to former World (European) Under-21 Champion Steve Baker in 1986, Fiora made it four wins in five years when he won his last SA title in 1987 at the Westline Speedway in Whyalla. Fiora would finish second to Craig Hodgson in 1988 and he finished second again the Hodgson in 1989 at North Arm.

As South Australian Champion or runner-up, Fiora gained automatic qualification to the Australian Championship, with his best result being 4th in 1988 when the title was held in Murray Bridge. Mark Fiora's best result at the Australian Best Pairs Championship was winning the title in 1988 at Murray Bridge with Craig Hodgson.

Following the 1989/90 season, Mark Fiora at the age of 28, retired from competitive riding. At the 1992 Australian Championship held at North Arm, Fiora took part in demonstration rides throughout the night against other former South Australian riders, including twice national and nine time SA champion John Boulger. Fiora 'won' each of his four rides

Mark Fiora holds the record for most wins in the South Australian Championship at different tracks, with each of his four title wins coming at different tracks (Speedway Park, North Arm, Riverview and Westline).

United Kingdom

Mark Fiora first raced in the British leagues in 1981 and he rode for 13 different sides until retiring from riding in Great Britain after 1988. During his time in the UK, Mark Fiora rode for the Scunthorpe Stags, Sheffield Tigers, Edinburgh Monarchs, Leicester Lions, Birmingham Brummies, Newcastle Diamonds, Wolverhampton Wolves, Middlesbrough Bears, Reading Racers, Long Eaton Invaders, Bradford Dukes, Cradley Heathens and finally, the Ipswich Witches.

In 1985, he helped the Middlesbrough Tigers win the Fours Championship during the 1985 National League season.[2] With Long Eaton in 1986 he averaged 9.18 over his 38 matches and in 1988 for Middlesbrough when he averaged 9.45 over his 32 matches for the Bears.

International

Mark Fiora represented Australia in test matches both in Australia and overseas against various nations and composite teams.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 21 June 2023.
  2. News: Speedway . Cambridge Daily Mirror . 22 July 1985 . 11 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/australia.htm Australian Speedway test results 1928-2011