World champions are rather thin on the ground in this neck of the woods so it was a great day for Derek James when he met up with two Norfolk and Suffolk sporting heroes.
One was born in Malta, the other in Sweden. They come from different decades but they will always be regarded as two of the best speedway riders of all time. They are Mark Loram of Suffolk and Ove Fundin of Norfolk.
Sharing a table with them at the World Speedway Rider’s Association annual lunch in Norfolk was a privilege. You would never imagine they were two of the most fiery and fearless men on the track and when they were flying high, no-one in the world could get anywhere near them.
This year Mark is the president of the WSRA but he kept his chain of office in his pocket most of the time, unless people asked to take a look at it.
Then you could see how proud this modest man is to be able to wear it around his neck, when asked to.
Mark, now 45, and Ove, 83, are two quiet gentlemen who can look back on remarkable racing careers when they were the best in the world.
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