The Workington Comets and Great Britain captain was the early favourite to come out on top in the British title chase and he dropped just one point in his five heats to qualify for the final.

Cook looked like becoming a four-time runner-up when he missed the start and his Belle Vue team-mate Steve Worrall dived for the inside line.

But he wound it on to burst to the front and, from then on, the result was never in doubt.

The delight and relief was etched on his face as his win sunk in, in front of a bumper crowd and the BT Sport television cameras.

He said: Its been a long time coming and to do it in that style, I didnt get it on a plate. Stevies a trapper and I was half tempted to take gate two because I knew what hed do, I knew hed clamp me.

I took a gamble on the gate with a little bit more grip on it but it didnt work out.

Cook paid tribute to his dad Will and sponsors after the meeting as thoughts turned to his upcoming wild card appearance in the British Grand Prix and Augusts GP Challenge, which could see him become a fully-fledged GP rider in next years series.

Ive worked extremely hard, this is my life, he added.

My team and I will be working extremely hard together. I want to be World Champion.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson travelled down to the National Speedway Stadium to support Cook and helped give his captain the bumps in front of a jubilant crowd.

He said: Absolutely brilliant. What a night, and no more than he deserves after all the hard work that he has put in.

He was so determined to finally get this title, which is one he has been unfortunate to miss out on in recent seasons due to circumstances not necessarily of his own making, but now he has finally done it and they cant take that away from him.

He was clearly the best rider on show all evening and he just took one ride at a time, with his pit crew making adjustments as needed, and we kept him abreast of what he needed to do with regards to the points situation.

Then he just went out and did the business with some incredible racing."

Following on from his success in the GP semi-final qualifier in Italy on Saturday, this caps an incredible three days for him, added Jackson.

He has raised the bar again this season and to claim the wild card berth at Cardiff is the icing on the cake.

He has had that wild card berth in the past.

But this year he is much more ready for it and could really do something he certainly wont be going there just to make up the numbers thats for sure and there are bound to be lots of Comets fans that are now planning a weekend in South Wales in July to cheer him on.

Comets are back in Championship action at Ipswich tomorrow night (7.30pm start) before Sundays back-to-back Knockout Cup ties home and away against Newcastle Diamonds.

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Comets captain aiming for world glory after winning his maiden British title - News & Star