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(= Marathon). Im Anhang Resultate und Rennstrecken. Text tschechisch. - «Franti ek ("Franta") astn (12 November 1927 – 8 April 2000) was a Czech Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He started his sports career as bicycle racer. In 1948 he competed in the Peace Race. He competed in his first motorcycle race in 1947 on a DKW motorcycle. In 1952 he competed in the Czechoslovak Grand Prix with a used Norton motorcycle, finishing 7th. In 1953 he became a member of the Jawa factory racing team. He was the Czechoslovak motorcycle champion five times (500cc in 1956, 350cc in 1958, 350cc in 1959, 250 cc in 1960, 350 cc in 1965). He won Czechoslovak Grand Prix eight times (1954 250 cc, 1956 350 cc, 1958 350 cc, 1959 350 cc, 1960 250 cc and 350 cc, 1961 350 cc, 1962 500 cc). In 1957 he competed in his first Grand Prix world championship race. His most successful season was 1961 in the 350cc class – he participated in 5 races and won twice (German Grand Prix and Swedish Grand Prix), gaining 3rd place twice and finishing the season with 26 points, second overall behind Gary Hocking. He was also multi-time competitor in the Isle of Man TT, with best results in 1962 and 1963 in 350cc class. After end of active sport career he was a sportscaster for Czechoslovak Television »