Alex Volkanovski gets a bird’s-eye view of stuntman and fellow Australian Supercross ambassador Harry Bink at WIN Stadium. Photo: Josh Lynch, Australian Supercross Championship.
Windang UFC fighter Alex Volkanovski has been handed the “keys” to WIN Stadium in his new role as ambassador for the Australian Supercross Championship.
Round two of the championship will be held at the stadium on 2 November, with pre-sale tickets on sale from Tuesday 18 June.
Volkanovski was at the stadium on Thursday (13 June) to meet with some of the stars of the event, including NSW riders Matt Moss and Dylan Wills.
He said it was an honour to get the keys to the stadium, allowing him access to all areas behind the scenes.
He joked it was “nice to get the keys to something in Wollongong”, in reference to Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery’s 2023 refusal to award him the keys to the city, saying at the time that the UFC fighter participated in a “blood sport which in some respects provokes violence”.
The 35-year-old UFC star said he was excited to join Australian Supercross Championship as an ambassador.
“There are many comparable elements between Supercross and MMA – these guys put their bodies on the line every time they race, push themselves in daunting situations, and must be extremely physically fit and mentally resilient to compete,” he said.
“I’m not sure I’ll be jumping on a bike just yet – I’ve got a lot to learn – but am a big fan of the sport and can’t wait to watch these amazing riders go hard at WIN Stadium.”
Championship Director Kelly Bailey said giving Volkanovski the keys to Australian Supercross and WIN Stadium for the event was a sign of respect, recognising his UFC achievements and symbolising the beginning of a great relationship.
“There are so many synergies between combat and action sports; Wollongong is Alex’s hometown and home of our second event and with a genuine interest in learning about supercross – he was perfect to be an ambassador,” Bailey said.
“As an ambassador, and with the keys to the stadium in his pocket, Alex will have access-all-areas; the freedom to be behind the scenes.
“We’re excited to get him close to the action when gates drop, to being amongst riders and teams in the pits, fans in the stands or trackside learning the ins-and-outs of our incredible sport.”
Bailey said he was thrilled with the city’s response to the event, which will return to Wollongong for the first time in five years.
“As expected, the Illawarra region and NSW fanbase have been incredibly forthcoming with their support of our Wollongong round,” he said.
“Be it coming from local, inter-region or interstate – we can’t wait to welcome our existing fans who have attended in the past and long supported the series, together with new fans, who are keen to see what the supercross hype is about.”
Destination Wollongong General Manager Mark Sleigh welcomed the event to the region and urged travelling fans to explore what the city has on offer as a tourism destination.
“This exciting event will have great economic benefits for our city drawing in tourists from across the nation,” he said.
“While visiting the region, we encourage fans to take time out to enjoy our diverse dining options, small bars, attractions, our beaches and rock pools, coastal cycleways or, take an invigorating stroll along the stunning Blue Mile, just down the road from WIN Stadium.”
Pre-sale tickets for the Wollongong round open on Tuesday 18 June; general tickets on Friday 21 June. For tickets and more information visit Australian Supercross.
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