Antonín Kasper (5 December 1962 – 31 July 2006) also known as Toni Kasper during his racing career, was a Czech motorcycle speedway rider. He appeared in four Speedway World Championship finals and featured in four Speedway Grand Prix series.[1] He earned 42 international caps for the Czechoslovakia national speedway team and 15 caps for the Czech Republic national speedway team.[2]
 Toni as the 1991 Golden Helmet of Pardubice winner | |
| Born | 5 December 1962 Prague, Czechoslovakia |
|---|---|
| Died | 31 July 2006 (aged 43) |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Career history | |
| Czechoslovakia/Rep | |
| 1982–1989 | Rudá Hvězda Praha |
| 1990–1994 | Olymp Praha |
| Great Britain | |
| 1982–1983 | Hackney Hawks |
| 1984 | Eastbourne Eagles |
| Poland | |
| 1990–1991 | Lublin |
| 1992–1996, 2000–2002 | Gniezno |
| 1997–1999 | Rzeszów |
| Sweden | |
| 1991–1992, 1996–1998 | Karlstad |
| 1999–2002 | Masarna |
| Denmark | |
| 2001 | Brovst |
| Individual honours | |
| 1998 | Continental Champion |
| 1982 | European Junior Champion |
| 1991 | Golden Helmet of Pardubice (CZE) |
Career
editKasper won the 1982 European Under-21 Championship at the Rottalstadion in Pocking, West Germany. He won the title, after finishing on 14 points.[3] He then joined Hackney Hawks in the British leagues and rode for them in 1982 and 1983.[4]
In 1987, he represented the Czechoslovak national team during the final of the 1987 Speedway World Team Cup.[5]
On 25 July 1998, he won the Continental Final, which formed part of the 1999 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification.[6]
Kasper rode in the United Kingdom for the Hackney Hawks from 1982 until their closure the following season at the end of 1983.[7] He rode for Karlstad in Sweden in 1991.
In 2005 Kasper was diagnosed with cancer, and he died in 2006.[8]
As a child actor he appeared in two Czech films.
Family
editHis father Antonín Kasper Sr. also appeared in Speedway World Championship finals.
World Final appearances
editIndividual World Championship
edit- 1983 –
Norden, Motodrom Halbemond – 14th – 3 points - 1986 –
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – 14th – 2 pts - 1987 –
Amsterdam Olympic Stadium – 12th – 9 pts - 1990 –
Bradford, Odsal Stadium – 15th – 2 pts
World Team Cup
edit- 1982 – London, White City Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml / Václav Verner / Petr Ondrašík) – 4th – 17 pts (0)
- 1983 –
Vojens, Speedway Center (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml / Václav Verner / Petr Ondrašík) – 4th – 3 pts (0) - 1987 - Fredericia, Fredericia Speedway, Coventry, Brandon Stadium,
Prague, Markéta Stadium (with Roman Matoušek / Petr Vandírek / Lubomír Jedek / Zdeněk Schneiderwind) - 4th - 36pts (10)
World Pairs Championship
edit- 1986 - Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Roman Matoušek) – 3rd – 32pts
- 1987 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Roman Matoušek) – 5th – 30 pts
Speedway Grand Prix results
edit| Year | Position | Points | Best finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 12th | 50 | 5th | 5th in Danish GP |
| 1999 | 15th | 39 | 5th | 5th Polish GP |
| 2000 | 17th | 32 | 12th | |
| 2001 | 23rd | 11 | 17th | Rode in only 3 GPs |
References
edit- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Courtney second after run-off". Leicester Daily Mercury. 19 July 1982. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Fit-Again Morton Set to boost the Tigers". Star Green 'un. 18 June 1983. Retrieved 31 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Thorp can sparkle". Manchester Evening News. 16 July 1987. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Individual Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ Fenn, C.(2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. ISBN 0-7524-2737-7
- ^ Tribute to Toni Kasper Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine