Riding motorbikes, horses and bicycles can be riskiest sports, accounting for hundreds of major trauma cases in Victoria each year, suggests a study.

A Monash University Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine study looked at all sport-related major trauma and deaths recorded from July 2001-June 2007 in the Australian state.

According to the ‘Herald Sun’, study co-author Nadine Andrew found 1237 trauma and death cases were recorded overall and 218 Victorians lost their lives in sport and recreation in the six years to 2007, reports News.com.au.

Cycling recorded the most deaths with 43, trailed by fishing with 35, and swimming and off-road motor sport at 32 and 23 respectively.

Deaths from power boating/water skiing stood at 7, horse riding at 4 while ice/snow sports claimed 2.

Andrew, who spoke at the recent annual Injury Prevention and Safety Conference in Melbourne, said: "The overall rate of major trauma and death in sport and recreation ... isn't high compared to other areas of trauma.”

She added: "I don't want my research to stop people from doing things. I just want to make it safer."