Sports News

Pesek finishes disappointing 18th in British Grand Prix

Lukas Pesek, photo: www.lukas-pesek.com Lukas Pesek's recent topping the standings in 125cc motorcycle racing is a thing of the past after a third poor performance in a row by the Czech racer at the weekend. Spills during races in Italy and France were followed by a disappointing 18th place finish at the British Grand Prix in Donington. The rider suffered technical problems with his bike, saying afterwards the machine had "swung" from side to side, leaving him unable to go faster. The good news for the rider is that for now he remains third in the overall standings, 24 points behind leader Hector Faubel of Spain.

Voracek 7th overall in NHL draft

Jakub Voracek, photo: www.halifaxmooseheads.ca 19 year-old Jakub Voracek was this year's first first European player chosen in the NHL draft. The player was 7th draft pick and was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets. This year only five Czech players were drafted, a much lower number from the double digit figures only six years ago. Other Czech players picked in the draft were Michal Repcik (40th) to Florida, Vladimir Ruzicka (103rd) to Phoenix, Ondrej Roman (136th) to Dallas, and Radim Ostrcil (169th) to Boston. Many in Czech ice hockey point to the low number of Czechs in the draft as further proof Czech ice hockey is going through a rebuilding stage after Czechs enjoyed a string of victories on the international scene into the new millennium.

Vokoun traded to Florida

Tomas Vokoun NHL ice hockey goaltender Tomas Vokoun has said he was taken by surprise when he learned he had been traded by his team the Nashville Predators to Florida. He received the news from fellow player Martin Erat - apparently by phone text message. Vokoun - who backed the Czechs to their last world championship title in 2005, spent nine years in Nashville: his former team had only days to go before any trade could be blocked. Vokoun has said that while the move was unexpected, Florida was one of the teams he would have "considered", had he known.

Rozehnal headed for Newcastle

Football defender David Rozehnal is set to leave French side Saint Germain to join the English Premier League's Newcastle United once he signs a four-year contract. The media speculated about Rozehnal's transfer for several months: originally Bundesliga's Borussia Dortmund was interested in the player, but the two clubs did not reach agreement on the financial conditions of the transfer. Then Newcastle started negotiating with Saint Germain. Most recently, also Spanish Sevilla also wanted to buy him. Four years ago, Rozehnal left the Czech soccer league to play for Belgian FC Bruges from where he transferred to St Germain. Rozehnal will be the fifth Czech footballer to play in the Premier League next season, the other four being goalie Petr Cech (Chelsea), midfielders Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal) Patrik Berger (Aston Villa), and backup keeper Radek Cerny (Tottenham Hotspur).

English jockey wins 87th Czech Derby

Photo: CTK 43-year-old English jockey Paul Eddery - the winner of more than 1,000 races - added another victory at the weekend taking the 87th Czech Derby at the Chuchle racetrack in Prague. Riding the 3-year-old chestnut Medeo, the jockey outclassed his closest competitor by 4 lengths in the flat race. Jockey Raja on Charles was 2nd, Rispoli on Esperanto was 3rd.