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Aussie freestyle motocross champion Blake “Bilko” Williams has shocked a gathering of stars to claim the
gold medal in the freestyle event of the X Games at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles recently, (yes the same venue where
Michael Jackson was preparing for his comeback tour beginning in London).
After three attempts in the invitation-only
session, Bilko acclaimed a 1pt win in the freestyle finale from Jeremy Stenberg, trailed by Nate Adams and Mat Rebeaud. There
were no other Aussies in the outcome.
Competitors were able to drop their worst run, which was accidental for Williams
as he gave his second jump.
His win confirms the first time an international competitor has claimed a gold medal
in the freestyle event in the X Games.
"After being robbed of gold in the best trick event last night (where
he finished second), it really lit a fire under my belly to settle for nothing less than gold tonight,” stated Williams.
“I am stoked, tonight was the one that counted and it was an amazing feeling to get the win in front of my mum and dad
who flew over for the event.
“It has been a long couple of weeks and to be honest I actually didn’t
have the preparation I would have liked.
“I want to dedicate the medal to the late Jeremy Lusk and Bronte
Holland and also my mate Cam Sinclair who I should have been competing against tonight.”
Sinclair arrived
from Baxter in country Victoria. The next session on Bilko’s itinerary is the Wendy’s Invitational at Portland,
the initial of three freestyle motocross events on this years tour.
Other victors in X Games were Ivan Lazzarini
in supermoto, Josh Hansen in supercross; Ashley Fiolek in women’s supercross; and Kyle Loza in motocross best trick.
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