NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Motocross star Blake 'Bilko' Williams: 18 surgeries, 27 broken bones - and counting

Kirsty Wynn
By Kirsty Wynn
Reporter·Herald on Sunday·
17 Nov, 2018 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Motocross star Blake "Bilko" Williams performing his signature tricks - the 360 and the cliffhanger. / Supplied

Top motocross freestyler Blake "Bilko" Williams used to be able to count his broken bones on his fingers and toes.

Now, with a running tally of 27 breaks, fractures and dislocations, the Australian star of flips and tricks has not only run out of toes to count his injuries on - the ones he has are pretty banged up.

There are titanium pins in six of his 10 toes, plates in his collar-bone, reconstructed knees and shoulders and an ankle that is due a complete rebuild.

His hospital file details more than 18 surgeries and is overflowing with X-rays that catalogue 27 broken bones - but Bilko said there's nothing in the world that will keep him off his bike.

Blake "Bilko" Williams won the Best Trick competition in Australia last week. Photo / Supplied
Blake "Bilko" Williams won the Best Trick competition in Australia last week. Photo / Supplied
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The master of the jaw-dropping 360 trick and cliffhanger backflip will show off his signature moves in New Zealand this month at the Monster Energy SX event at Mt Smart Stadium.

"I can't wait to get out there and throw it down. It's choreographed mayhem and it's one hell of a show. There are no safety nets."

"I've been doing it for 15 years and if I wasn't doing it I'd just be sitting there thinking about doing it," he said.

The full-time rider has purpose-built ramps in his backyard and fellow FMX star and best mate Cam Sinclair lives five minutes down the road.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I had a small tip-over yesterday in the backyard so have a bit of a wrist injury but I am looking forward to coming out to New Zealand," Bilko said.

"It's only a minor one but I'll have to see once the swelling goes down."

That minor injury could take Bilko's broken bone count to 30 - a number he reckons would be higher if he didn't have a "concrete head" and the ability to land on his feet "like a cat".

"I have only had one minor concussion which is pretty unheard of in this sport - I have a concrete head," Bilko said.

Discover more

Sport|motorsport

Major Motocross event coming to Auckland

07 Aug 08:15 PM
New Zealand

Transformation of Mt Smart: From Taylor Swift to double flips

23 Nov 04:00 PM

"When you mess things up with a flip trick you want to get rotated so you are feet first and the bike doesn't land on you.

"I'm like a cat, I always land on my feet."

He got the nickname Bilko from his dad who said as a kid Williams always thought he was in charge, like Steve Martin's character in the comedy Sergeant Bilko.

He's known for his mad antics off the track but as soon as he is on his bike he is focused and professional.

And despite taking all precautions against accidents he said he always "give it his all".

Blake "Bilko" Williams performs his signature Cliffhanger backflip. Photo / Supplied
Blake "Bilko" Williams performs his signature Cliffhanger backflip. Photo / Supplied

The worst of Bilko's injuries was a multiple break ankle injury that was complicated with a staph infection.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He's had eight surgeries to repair the now-fused bones in his ankle and has more planned.

"That one is going to require the bone to be sawn open and rebuilt and will take a year so I'll get that fixed when I retire."

Until then, it is business as usual for the extreme sportsman.

Last week he won the Monster Energy Best Trick competition in Australia and he's planning on doing it all again in Auckland.

Bilko is one of a number of the world's best supercross and freestyle motocross riders who will compete at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on November 24.

The event is the largest off-road motorcycling series outside the US; 6000 tonnes of dirt will be trucked into the venue for it.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The event is the second and final round of the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Championship following a round in Australia.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Warriors

Capewell to miss Warriors' clash with Panthers, rookie centre returns

17 Jun 06:36 AM
All Blacks

Savea to swap Moana Pasifika for Japanese club Kobe in 2026

17 Jun 04:36 AM
Super Rugby

Crusaders playmaker confirms departure after Super Rugby Pacific final

17 Jun 04:00 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Capewell to miss Warriors' clash with Panthers, rookie centre returns

Capewell to miss Warriors' clash with Panthers, rookie centre returns

17 Jun 06:36 AM

The Warriors' second-rower has been recalled for Queensland for State of Origin game 2.

Savea to swap Moana Pasifika for Japanese club Kobe in 2026

Savea to swap Moana Pasifika for Japanese club Kobe in 2026

17 Jun 04:36 AM
Crusaders playmaker confirms departure after Super Rugby Pacific final

Crusaders playmaker confirms departure after Super Rugby Pacific final

17 Jun 04:00 AM
Premium
'I said sack him – then wrote his book': Why Gregor Paul authored Ian Foster's autobiography

'I said sack him – then wrote his book': Why Gregor Paul authored Ian Foster's autobiography

17 Jun 02:00 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP