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.Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. He earned 42 international caps for the Czechoslovakia national speedway team and 15 caps for the Czech Republic national speedway team.
Career Kasper won the 1982 European Under-21 Championship at the Rottalstadion in Pocking, West Germany. He won the title, after finishing on 14 points. He then joined Hackney Hawks in the British leagues and rode for them in 1982 and 1983.
In 1987, Kasper represented the Czechoslovak national team during the final of the 1987 Speedway World Team Cup.
On 25 July 1998, Kasper won the Continental Final, which formed part of the 1999 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification.
Kasper rode in the United Kingdom for the Hackney Hawks from 1982 until their closure the following season at the end of 1983.Fenn, C.(2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. He rode for Karlstad in Sweden in 1991.
In 2005, Kasper was diagnosed with cancer, and he died in 2006.Tribute to Toni Kasper
As a child actor, Kasper appeared in two Czech films.
Family Kasper's father Antonín Sr. also appeared in Speedway World Championship finals.
World Final appearances Individual World Championship 1983 – Norden, Motodrom Halbemond – 14th – 3 points 1986 – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – 15th – 2 pts 1987 – Amsterdam Olympic Stadium – 12th – 9 pts 1990 – Bradford, Odsal Stadium – 15th – 2 pts
World Team Cup 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 1986 - Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Roman Matoušek) – 3rd – 32pts (22) 1987 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Roman Matoušek) – 5th – 30 pts
Speedway Grand Prix results 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