International Entertainment Group was today announced as the new promoter of the Australian Supercross Championship by Motorcycling Australia.

Now the official rights holders to Australian Supercross, the Australian Superbike Championship and also the Victoria Road Racing Championships, IEG has a large presence in domestic competition.

Yarrive Konsky is the managing director of IEG, and also owns the factory Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing team that will contest the series alongside Australia’s other factory race teams.

With experience on his side with previous events run by Full Throttle Sports, Konsky and IEG were clear favourites to take over supercross once it was announced earlier this year that Global Action Sports was leaving the sport after a four-year involvement.

MotoOnline.com.au spoke to Konsky to get a quick insight into the series, however keep in mind that it’s in its very early stages of organisation. We intend to follow up with more from IEG as the season draws closer.

International Entertainment Group (IEG) has been awarded the rights to Australian Supercross by Motorcycling Australia. Tell us a little more about the agreement and is it a long-term plan in the works?

IEG has had previous experience with supercross and can successfully say the 2007/2008 model worked with respects to crowd numbers, participation, affordability and junior development

IEG have a clear intention to establish common goals and objectives with the industry. Our primary focus is to increase attendance. To achieve this we need to make it more affordable, accessible and desirable for spectators.

A key to ensuring the future success of supercross in Australia is to build the nation’s best racer’s profiles and not to rely on bringing overseas racers. Although we will encourage international participation, we wont rely on it. Instead we will position our nations best racers in the spotlight.

How many rounds will the series be and when will it commence? There’s not a heap of time to plan a 2012 series, considering we’re already in May…

The championship will commence late September/early October and will run over four rounds. Although there aren’t the lead times we would like, I know all teams have budgeted to race as teams and manufactures were only informed of GAS non-continuousness in February. Therefore all contracts with riders and sponsors that were signed for 2012 would have been with the notion that supercross was being run.

You have previously hosted rounds of Australian Supercross and other local events with success. What can we expect as far as the on-track action goes in regards to formats, entertainment, etc?

It’s early stages and a collective effort from industry, sponsors, and teams is required to ensure supercross continues to grow. Its common knowledge that I didn’t agree with everything Global Action Sports (GAS) did, however they didn’t hurt our sport.

The brand ‘supercross’ is held in high regard by the public, industry and corporate Australia. Chad Reed can be credited for this, as can GAS. Aesthetically their events were world class, their tracks decent and their race management diligent.

We will be different, but racing is racing. We will bring a side show to the events, its important to value ad when you consider the number of shows, events, competitions you are competing against every weekend with regards to encouraging a crowd to pick your event over another.

The price of tickets will be more affordable for families and some cross-pollination with other existing events are being considered to entice a new audience to view our sport.

It’s an easy sport to get addicted to once you have watched it. I would say most of Australia have never seen supercross live. I aim to change that as best I can.

With regards to formats, IEG would like to return it back to the traditional formats. I don’t want to complicate what works around the world.

IEG was formed when you won the rights to the Australian Superbike Championship back in 2009. Will we see much cross promotion between the pair?

Not in the first year, but perhaps where possible in the future we maybe able to run a festival of speed.

Just finally, a question we have to ask, does your involvement with the factory Honda team change at all since you’ll be hosting the Australian titles, or will there be set strategies in place to ensure parity across the board?

Parity is simple, Alex. MA control the rules and execute approval on all supplementary regulations. Most people may find this hard to believe, but the MA appointed officials could shut an event down. Ultimately they have the last say and overall control – they are not biased.

As for my direct involvement, IEG is no different to V8 Supercars. There are many vested parties, but there is only one GM, CEO, etc, and that’s not me. The teams, team owners all have a vested interest in V8 Supercars and ensure that it is steered in the right direction.

Although the teams don’t have ownership in IEG, they are integral to its survival. Without the industry, teams and MA, supercross wouldn’t work. There is no bias at IEG.

The commercial realities are we rely on everyone’s involvement – privateers through to factory riders and there is no need for favoritism. I would like to think that being a team owner makes me think laterally. I don’t just think like a promoter.

I think like a team owner, a rider and sports entertainment provider. In addition because of my relationship with the industry I can work closely where possible with everyone.

However, with regards to your initial question, no my involvement with the team wont change. Pleas respect I have a team manger who looks after the team and I manage my business affairs with the team separately to IEG.

IEG have an appointed general manager and he will run, manage and oversee the Australian Supercross Championship. I have a large business interest in IEG, but I will not be on the start line screaming orders. I am more of a soundboard for my team at IEG and consult where and when needed.