Zdenek Kudrna
Encyclopedia
Zdeněk Kudrna was an international speedway
rider who reached he Speedway World Championship
final in 1979. He also finished third in the Individual Ice Racing World Championship
twice, in 1977 and 1979. Kudrna was Czech Ice Racing
champion six times, after the last of which he was awarded title Sportsman of the Year by the Czech Motorcycle Federation.
Kudrna first rode in the UK for the Exeter Falcons in 1979 with fellow compatriots Aleš Dryml, Sr., Jan Verner and Václav Verner. Also in 1979 he finished seventh Speedway World Championship
final and was a member of the Czechoslovak team
that finished third in the Speedway World Team Cup
.
1980 saw him move to the Birmingham Brummies
where he was nicknamed Kermit
due to his bright green leathers. The Czechoslovak authorities refused him permission to ride in the UK in 1981 but in 1982 he returned to the Brummies.
meeting in Stadskanaal
, Holland. He had already qualified to go through to the next round when midway through the final race, his throttle stuck open and he crashed full speed into the barrier. A wooden stake holding the fence impaled him. Despite being rushed to hospital, Kudrna died the next day from his injuries.
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 who reached he Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
final in 1979. He also finished third in the Individual Ice Racing World Championship
Individual Ice Racing World Championship
The medalists of the from finals of the Individual Ice Racing World Championship.- External links :*...
twice, in 1977 and 1979. Kudrna was Czech Ice Racing
Ice racing
Ice racing is a form of racing that uses cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, All-terrain vehicles, or other motorized vehicles. Ice racing takes place on frozen lakes or rivers, or on carefully groomed frozen lots...
champion six times, after the last of which he was awarded title Sportsman of the Year by the Czech Motorcycle Federation.
Kudrna first rode in the UK for the Exeter Falcons in 1979 with fellow compatriots Aleš Dryml, Sr., Jan Verner and Václav Verner. Also in 1979 he finished seventh Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
final and was a member of the Czechoslovak team
Czech Republic national speedway team
The Czech Republic are one of the major teams in international speedway. They have never won the competition but have appeared in eight finals.- Speedway World Team Cup :- Team U-21 World Championship :- Team U-19 European Championship :...
that finished third in the Speedway World Team Cup
Speedway World Team Cup
The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The competition started in 1960 and was replaced with the Speedway World Cup in 2001.-Format:From 1960 until 1985 each team consisted of four riders and a reserve...
.
1980 saw him move to the 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 ....
where he was nicknamed Kermit
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
due to his bright green leathers. The Czechoslovak authorities refused him permission to ride in the UK in 1981 but in 1982 he returned to the Brummies.
World Final appearance
- 19791979 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1979 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 2, 1979 Chorzów, Silesian Stadium-Heat Results:...
-
Poland ChorzówChorzówChorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Silesian Stadium - 7th - 8pts
Death
On 31 May 1982 Kudrna was racing in a grasstrackGrasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of motorcycle racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. Mountain and hillside tracks are also common in the UK, creating more technically demanding circuits...
meeting in Stadskanaal
Stadskanaal
Stadskanaal is a Canal, municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.The area is known for its peat mining.- Population centres :...
, Holland. He had already qualified to go through to the next round when midway through the final race, his throttle stuck open and he crashed full speed into the barrier. A wooden stake holding the fence impaled him. Despite being rushed to hospital, Kudrna died the next day from his injuries.
See also
- Czech Republic national speedway teamCzech Republic national speedway teamThe Czech Republic are one of the major teams in international speedway. They have never won the competition but have appeared in eight finals.- Speedway World Team Cup :- Team U-21 World Championship :- Team U-19 European Championship :...
- Individual Ice Racing World ChampionshipIndividual Ice Racing World ChampionshipThe medalists of the from finals of the Individual Ice Racing World Championship.- External links :*...