MARK Loram has ranked the block-busting reception he received at Poole after winning the 2000 world title up there alongside his Bydgoszcz glory night.

The curtain finally comes down on the former Pirates star’s distinguished racing career when he stages his farewell meeting at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

Leading riders like Jason Crump, Greg Hancock, Chris Holder, Hans Andersen, Davey Watt and Fredrik Lindgren will pay homage to Loramski in a star-studded 21-heat 16-man individual event.

And Loram, who hasn’t ridden publicly since his racing career was so cruelly ended by injury following a crash at Ipswich in 2007, will take to the track in front of a crowd for the last time.

Loramski, who turned 40 in January, has promised to get back on a bike and have a real blast, probably before tonight’s final.

When he does that, it’s bound to evoke memories of his triumphant return to Poole from Poland more than 10 years ago as the planet’s leading rider.

The first man to lift the world title while a Pirates rider said: “That night is something I will never forget.

“That was as big as the night when I won the trophy.

“There were people hanging off the lamp stands around the track.

“It was really something else.”

Loram attracted a crowd in the region of 6,000 after he became speedway’s last British world champion.

He said: “The memories are still fresh. I can hardly believe it was 10 years ago.

“I haven’t watched the tape of that night at Poole much, but I saw clips on the DVD (Mark Loram, The Peoples’ Champion), which we have on sale at the stadium tonight.

“That put a smile on my face because it was such a great occasion for all the supporters, not just me.”

There was talk Loram would be an ideal candidate to help run Team GB, or at least bring on British youngsters in an official capacity.

More recently, he hinted he may get involved at Mildenhall alongside Chris Louis and Michael Lee.

Asked whether he would stay involved in the shale sport, Loram said: “At the moment, I haven’t felt anything on offer was the right thing to do. I don’t want to put my name to anything not right.

“But I will 100 per cent be involved at some stage in the near future.

“Speedway is in my blood and I still feel I have something to offer, especially if it’s in the right place.”

Gates open at 6pm with a display by the UK FMX moto-cross team starting at 7pm.

Tonight’s line-up: Crump, Hancock, Sullivan, Watt, Lindgren, Kennett, Skornicki, Shields, Screen, Andersen, Parker, Gafurov, Holder, Nicholls, Woodward, Larsen.