Václav Verner

Václav Verner (6 May 1949 – 13 March 2018) was an international speedway rider.^[1][2] He earned 42 international caps for the Czechoslovakia national speedway team.^[3]

Václav Verner

Born	6 May 1949 (1949-05-06) Prague, Czechoslovakia
Died	13 March 2018(2018-03-13) (aged 68) Prague, Czech Republic
Nationality	Czech
Career history
Czechoslovakia
1970–1981	Rudá Hvězda Praha
Great Britain
1977–1979 & 1993–1995	Exeter Falcons
1980, 1982–1983	Poole Pirates
1996	Ryde Wight Wizards
Individual honours
1971	Czechoslovakian champion
1980, 1982, 1984	Speedway World Championship finalist
1978	Yorkshire TV Trophy winner
Team honours
1978	Spring Gold Cup

Speedway career

He was the individual champion of Czechoslovakia, after winning the Czechoslovakian Championship in 1971, finished runner-up five time (1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980) and third twice (1975, 1981).^[4][5]

In 1974, he represented his country in a test series against England.^[6]

He first rode in the top tier of British Speedway for Exeter Falcons in 1977.^[7]

He later rode for Poole Pirates^[8] and Exeter Falcons.^[9]

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1980 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - did not ride
• 1982 - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 15th - 2pts
• 1984 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 16th - 0pts

World Pairs Championship

• 1970 - Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Jiří Štancl) - 5th - 11pts (5)
• 1971 - Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium (with Pavel Mareš) - 4th - 17pts (9)

World Team Cup

• 1970 - London, Wembley Stadium (with Zdeněk Majstr / Jiří Štancl / Miloslav Verner / Jan Holub) - 4th - 3pts (3)
• 1977 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Jan Verner / Aleš Dryml) - 3rd - 23pts (5)
• 1978 - Landshut, Ellermühle Stadium (with Jiří Štancl / Jan Verner / Aleš Dryml Sr.) - 4th - 16+2pts (2)
• 1979 - London, White City Stadium (with Zdeněk Kudrna / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Jiří Štancl) - 3rd - 19pts (4)
• 1980 - Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Zdeněk Kudrna / Aleš Dryml Sr. / Jiří Štancl / Petr Ondrašík) - 4th - 12pts (3)
• 1982 - London, White City Stadium (with Aleš Dryml Sr. / Jiří Štancl / Petr Ondrašík / Antonín Kasper Jr.) - 4th - 17pts (6)
• 1983 - Vojens, Speedway Center (with Aleš Dryml Sr. / Jiří Štancl / Antonín Kasper Jr. / Petr Ondrašík) - 4th - 3pts (1)

Individual Ice Speedway World Championship

• 1973 Inzell, 16th – 3pts
• 1984 Moscow, 15th

Family

His brother Jan Verner and uncle Miloslav Verner were also international speedway riders.^[10]

Death

Verner died in 2018 after a long illness.^[8]