Image: AUS-X Open.

Incoming AUS-X Open chairman Tony Cochrane has indicated that the world-class supercross event could potentially expand into an international market in the future.

Cochrane, the co-founder of V8 Supercars and current chairman of the Gold Coast Suns, is set to lead the Monster Energy AUS-X Open into an expansion phase alongside directors Adam Bailey and Ryan Sanderson.

Last weekend’s third-annual event saw over 27,000 fans flock to Qudos Bank Arena to witness rounds four and five of the Australian Supercross Championship, alongside an assortment of freestyle motocross and additional elements of entertainment.

And while Sydney is renowned as the home of AUS-X Open with major support from the New South Wales government, it’s understood that Cochrane’s involvement will be instrumental if the action sports spectacular is to enter new regions in the future. It’s understood added interest is also currently coming from within Australia as well.

“I’m just so immensely proud of what [Ryan] and Adam have achieved,” Cochrane commented in Sydney. “The sport, what they’ve done here in their third event now, and they’ve grown it every year. It’s a great credit to them and I’m just there to mentor and help them. I’ve got some ideas and we’ll expand a bit.

“They’ve got a lot of interest, not only here in Australia, but a lot of interest in New Zealand, throughout Asia and Japan, so I’m just going to work with them throughout all of that. I did a few of those tricks, I guess, over the years with V8s and other sports, so I’ll just jump in there and give them a bit of a hand-up. I’m happy to do so, they are tremendous guys and they deserve all the success they get.”

Bailey, a former pro-level supercross racer himself, said that plans to travel overseas were in their infancy and didn’t rule out the chances of AUS-X Open also visiting additional sporting venues locally if the opportunity was the right one. Still, it will be a highly-calculated and gradual process if they are to add to the schedule.

“We have been contacted by multiple venues and parties, both in Australia and internationally,” Bailey confirmed. “Some attended on the weekend and all were hugely positive about the event. Whether it leads to anything, at this stage we don’t know, but it’s definitely a positive sign for the sport and the future of AUS-X Open.

“We’re always considering our options and have since the start – nothing’s ever off the table. We’ll always continue to be looking and having Tony there is definitely positive, having his expertise in assessing any options and seeing what interest there is for the event. It’s something we’ll be definitely looking to get his help with.”

In terms of the Sydney event and despite calls from the odd onlooker for AUS-X Open to transfer to a larger stadium, Bailey maintained that the indoor confines of Qudos Bank Arena were a good fit for what has become one of the most prestigious races on the international supercross calendar.

“The arena is an amazing fit for us, it obviously makes for a great show and atmosphere,” he continued. “We think it has a pretty special feel for it and it’s hard to deny that it works inside that venue. Whilst people talk about bigger tracks and things like that, we still definitely think that there are a lot of positives to it being as compact as it is – the viewing, the racing being tight and those kinds of things. While we’re always open to everything, we still are hugely positive and think the event is amazing inside that stadium.”

The appointment of Cochrane was made official last Saturday just hours out from the night show, with the high-profile business executive and sports administrator on-hand to witness the action first-hand throughout the opening night – impressed with the competition and entertainment throughout the evening.