Zdeněk Kudrna

Zdeněk Kudrna (2 September 1946 – 1 June 1982) was a Czech speedway rider. He reached the Speedway World Championship final in 1979 and 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.

Career In 1974, Kudrna represented his country in a test series against England.

Kudrna was subject to several failed signing attempts with Cradley Heath Heathens and Bristol Bulldogs when he was due to race in Britain for the 1978 season. He eventually rode in the UK for the Exeter Falcons in 1979 with 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 Kudrna 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.

World Final Appearances Individual World Championship 1978 – London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - did not ride 1979 – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 7th - 8pts

World Team Cup 1979 – London, White City Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Václav Verner) - 3rd - 19pts (4) 1980 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Václav Verner / Petr Ondrašík) - 4th - 12pt (1)

World Longtrack Championship 1976 – Mariánské Lázně 6th 14pts 1977 – Aalborg 12th 8pts 1978 – Mühldorf 15th 7pts 1979 – Mariánské Lázně 16th 2pts 1980 – Scheeßel 8th 9pts 1981 – Gornja Radgona 14th 4pts

Individual Ice Speedway World Championship 1974 – Nässjö 13th 4pts 1975 – Moscow 9th 12pts 1976 – Assen 7th 18pts 1977 – Inzell 3rd 24pts 1978 – Assen 11th 10pts 1979 – Inzell 3rd 26pts 1980 – Kalinin 4th 22pts 1981 - Assen 4th 25pts 1982 - Inzell 4th

Death On 31 May 1982, Kudrna was racing in a grasstrack meeting in Stadskanaal, the Netherlands. 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.