The Somerset Rebels were shocked by the news that their speedway rider Emil Kramer was killed in a road accident in his native Sweden on 9 December, 2009, aged 30.

A spokesman for the Rebels said that the club has lost a friend and paid tribute to Kramer as a "true gentleman" of speedway.

"Our thoughts are obviously with Emil’s family and close friends in their tragic bereavement,” said the spokesman.

"To say that we are all devastated here at Somerset is an understatement.

"Words fail us at this time, the club is losing more than a team member, we have lost a family friend, and a great, great, friend in that.

"Anyone who spent time in Emil’s company will agree he was a true gentleman of the sport, without a bad bone in his body.

"He always had time to spend with the fans and it is a measure of Emil that he has received so many glowing tributes from speedway fans far and wide.

“Emil had just had his best season with Somerset and was voted the club’s Rider of the Year by our fans just six short weeks ago.

"We know by the numerous telephone calls that we have already received from all over the world that Emil was also held in the highest esteem by his fellow riders.

"When we eventually come to terms with his tragic loss, I feel sure that the club and fans will want to establish a fitting memorial to Emil, as he will never be forgotten by those who had the honour and pleasure to have known him.”

Kramer first joined Somerset midway through the 2006 season as replacement for the injured Paul Fry and quickly established himself as a firm favourite with the Somerset fans.

A member of the historic 2008 Somerset that won the Premier League Knockout Cup, Kramer’s cool, unflustered riding style was the rock upon which Somerset’s success was built.

He first came to the UK in 2002 - the year he finished runner-up to Freddie Eriksson in the Swedish under-21 championship - to ride for King’s Lynn in the Elite League and he saw the season out riding for Hull in the Premier League.

He was to spend the next two seasons with the Vikings, with whom he won the Premier League, Knockout Cup and Young Shield in 2004, but with Hull’s demise at the end of 2005, he did not sign for a British club in 2006 until answering Somerset’s call to replace Fry later that season.