STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY TO HOST 

WORLD'S LEADING CUSTOM BIKE EVENT

The City of Sturgis has negotiated a unique promotional partnership that introduces the City of Sturgis , SD., and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, as the new permanent home for the prestigious Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building®. 

Now entering its 4th year, the Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building was immediately accepted as the highest standard of custom bike competition ever seen when the event made its debut in California in 2004.  

Originated by market leading international custom motorcycle industry magazine American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD), the organizers have been looking for a permanent home for the event that would expose the work of the world's leading custom motorcycle builders to the largest possible motorcycling public.  

Via Las Vegas (2005) the event came to the Thunder Road facility on the outskirts of Sturgis in 2006. Last fall, AMD, the City of Sturgis and Sturgis Events LLC., the company that manages the 4.5 acre lot between 2nd and 3rd streets on Lazelle Street in Sturgis, began sponsorship negotiations that have now created Champions Park, the new and permanent home of the Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building.  

Supported by a worldwide program of authorized Affiliate events in countries such as Canada, Spain, Italy, Sweden, The Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Ireland and Australia, and by an annual Official European Championship of Custom Bike Building that is held in Germany each March, the World Championship sees the world's leading custom motorcycle engineers come together for an annual event that is recognized by custom motorcycle industry insiders as being the premiere showcase of custom motorcycle design and engineering excellence.  

The first two World Championships were won by Canadian Roger Goldammer, with the prestigious title going to Chicara Nagata of Japan in 2006, with Covington's Cycle City of Woodward, Oklahoma leading the American charge for honors.  

Among those who have featured prominently in the event in years past have been Jesse Jurrens and Michael Prugh of Independent Cycle in Rapid City (2nd in 2004 and 2005), who, along with Mitchell, South Dakota's Brian Klock (Klock Werks Kustom Cycle) have been waving the flag for what is now the event's home state.  

The creation of Champions Park on Lazelle Street , and the adoption of Sturgis as a permanent home for the event, give the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a massive increase in its already substantial international profile. World Championship owner and organizer, Robin Bradley, said, "For us, the move to Sturgis was a logical one. We set our sights on being able to eventually establish the event in Sturgis several years ago, and we’re delighted at the welcome we have been given by the City and Sturgis Events, LLC".  

He went on to say, "The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the greatest gathering of bikers in the world and has great profile internationally, as well with bikers here in the U.S. The City of Sturgis and the entire Black Hills region have made bikers welcome for more than 65 years and done much to contribute to creating the industry that we see today. This decision is the industry's chance to say thank you to all concerned for what you do for us, and for us in the custom motorcycle industry to be able to put something back into the community.”  

Sturgis Mayor Terry Jensen, Sturgis City Council President and Sturgis Rally Committee representative Pokey Jacobson, Sturgis Industrial Expansion Corporation representative Ron Rosenboom and Sturgis Events, LLC managing partner Don Feist, all unanimously voice their support of Bradley and the AMD Official World Championship. “Robin Bradley is well respected in the motorcycle industry and a visionary person. The opening of Champions Park in the heart of downtown Sturgis is a great fit for the World Championship as well as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and our entire community. We are excited to present this caliber of event in downtown Sturgis during the Rally and pleased to now be able to call Robin and his AMD staff our partners. We truly look forward to working with him.”  

Bradley's international motorcycle magazine publishing business is also working closely with the Sturgis Industrial Expansion Corporation to help develop motorcycle industry inward investment into the City of Sturgis and region on a year-round basis, and has, himself, chosen Sturgis as the home for the new U.S. company that he is establishing for the further development of the Official World Championship.