Mark Fiora
Encyclopedia
Mark Fiora is a former Australian international Motorcycle speedway
rider. He is a four time South Australian Champion
and rode for 13 different teams in the United Kingdom
between 1981 and 1988.
'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 but he failed to place in any Australian final. Mark Fiora's best result at the Australian titles was winning the Best Pairs Championship in 1988 at Murray Bridge with Craig Hodgson.
Following the 1989/90 season, Mark Fiora at the age of 28, retired from competitive riding.
in 1981 and he rode for 13 different sides until retiring from riding in 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 Heath Heathens
and finally, the Ipswich Witches
.
Fiora's best seasons in the UK were with Long Eaton in 1986 when 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.
in test matches both in Australia and overseas against various nations and composite teams.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider. He is a four time South Australian Champion
South Australian Individual Speedway Championship
The South Australian Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held annually in South Australia to determine the South Australian champion. The event is organised by the Speedway Riders' Association of South Australia Inc...
and rode for 13 different teams in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 1981 and 1988.
Australia
"Felix" Fiora, as he was known, was one of the earliest graduates of AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's Under-16 Sidewinders Speedway and started his senior racing career on South Australia's speedway's Rowley Park
Rowley park speedway
Rowley Park Speedway is a former Dirt track racing venue that was located on Torrens Road in Brompton, South Australia, The speedway was named after Mr Enoch Procter Rowley, an English-born Dentist who moved to Adelaide from Kalgoorlie in 1908 where he had forged a reputation as being Western...
(Adelaide) and Riverview
Riverview Speedway
Riverview Speedway, sometimes referred to as Murray Bridge Speedway is a Dirt track racing venue that is located in the town of Murray Bridge, South Australia, only 66 km from Adelaide. Racing at the speedway generally takes place between September and May meetings are held every second...
(Murray Bridge) and was seen by many as a possible successor to John Boulger
John Boulger
John Boulger is a former international motorcycle speedway rider. After he retired from riding Solo's, Boulger raced in Speedcars from the mid-1980s until the mid-1990s...
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
Speedway City
Speedway City is a Dirt track racing venue located 26 km north of Adelaide in Virginia, South Australia, adjacent to the Adelaide International Raceway...
. He made it two in a row in 1984 at the North Arm Speedway
North Arm Speedway
North Arm Speedway was the first dedicated motorcycle speedway ever built in Adelaide, South Australia and was located in the industrial suburb of Gillman...
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
1983 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship
The 1983 Individual Speedway Junior European Championship-World final:*July 24, 1983 Lonigo, Santa Marina Stadium...
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 but he failed to place in any Australian final. Mark Fiora's best result at the Australian titles was winning the Best Pairs Championship in 1988 at Murray Bridge with Craig Hodgson.
Following the 1989/90 season, Mark Fiora at the age of 28, retired from competitive riding.
United Kingdom
Mark Fiora first raced in the British leaguesSpeedway in the United Kingdom
The sport of Speedway in the United Kingdom has changed little since the first meetings in the 1920s. With three domestic leagues, its own Speedway Grand Prix and an annual entry into the Speedway World Cup it remains one of the popular motorsports in the country.-History:The first meeting in the...
in 1981 and he rode for 13 different sides until retiring from riding in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
after 1988. During his time in the UK, Mark Fiora rode for the Scunthorpe Stags, Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Tigers
The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway...
, Edinburgh Monarchs
Edinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
, Leicester Lions, Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The club race at Perry Barr Stadium ....
, Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle Diamonds are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Premier League. The club has a reputation of importing young foreign talent and have given starts to the British careers of six times World Champion Ivan Mauger, three times World Champion Ole Olsen, 1974 World Champion...
, Wolverhampton Wolves
Wolverhampton Wolves
The Wolverhampton Wolves are a British Speedway team based in Wolverhampton, England. They are sponsored by Parry's International Travel, and have signed a new deal with owner Dave Parry for the 2008 season onwards. The team is managed by Peter Adams and the promoter of the club is Chris Van...
, Middlesbrough Bears
Middlesbrough Bears
The Middlesbrough Bears were a British speedway team which operated under various names from 1939 until their closure in 1996.-Brief history:The team was initially nicknamed the Bears in 1939...
, Reading Racers
Reading Racers
Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history...
, Long Eaton Invaders, Bradford Dukes
Bradford Dukes
The Bradford Dukes were a British motorcycle speedway team which operated from the Odsal Stadium in Bradford from 1986 until their closure in 1997.-History:...
, Cradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens
Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium...
and finally, the Ipswich Witches
Ipswich Witches
The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm....
.
Fiora's best seasons in the UK were with Long Eaton in 1986 when 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 AustraliaAustralia national speedway team
Australia are one of the major teams in international speedway. The team is managed by former rider, three time Australian Champion and 1994 World #3 Craig Boyce and captained by three time Speedway World Champion Jason Crump...
in test matches both in Australia and overseas against various nations and composite teams.