Avon’s Cobra Tyres Give World Championship Winner Extra Bite

Bike builder Dave Cook has seen his Avon shod ‘Rambler’ crowned as this year’s World Champion machine. The 2009 AMD World Championship Of Bike Building took place recently in Sturgis, South Dakota, and it was Cook’s amazing machine – fitted with Avon’s Cobra tyres – which took top honours. Cook’s creation beat 82 other motorcycles to take top honours.

“This is truly a dream come true,” said Cook. “I have dedicated the best part of the last three years trying to win the World Championship, and finally I have achieved the ultimate recognition of my fellow professionals.” The 51-year-old, the first American to win this prestigious award, has only been a full-time specials builder since 2002.

The award has been described as motorcycling’s ‘Pulitzers, Nobels and Olympics, all rolled into one,’ and the world championship is staged annually during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It marks the culmination of a year-long series of 18 events held world-wide in 16 countries, including the European Championship. The event has normally dominated by builders from Europe, Japan and Canada, but this year both the winner and second place getter hailed from the US. Third went to Belgium’s Freddie Bertrand.

Cook’s ‘Rambler’ features a 550cc engine with a much-modified four-speed BMW R75 gearbox. The frame, forks and swingarm were all custom made by Cook himself, while the tyres are, of course, 21-inch Avon Cobras.