Las Vegas. It’s pretty easy to come up with clever little words and sentences to combine Never Enough Town and supercross. With that in mind, we’re going to go right ahead and throw one done here now: Brett Metcalfe is the wildcard in the pack for this Saturday night’s Dave Coombs Senior East/West Shootout. Set to run on an ultra-high speed oven-baked, blue groove surface, the ersatz track inside the 36,800-seat Sam Boyd Stadium will feature a fifth-gear start, a 1960s-era Springfield Mile-style flat track turn and 1:15-second lap times — an eternity in this day and age of 48-second lap times — the Vegas race track will likely be a survival of the fittest affair. All good stuff for a determined, hard working, hard riding racer such as Brett Metcalfe. Coming off a strong fourth overall place finish in the 2008 AMA West Region Lites Championship — a series in which he gained momentum as it wound itself down — the friendly Australian is quietly hoping to creep up on Lawrence, Canard, Dungey, Villopoto and company and nail down his first career supercross win. With three top three podium finishes to his credit this winter, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider is certainly more than capable of getting it done. Alpinestars spoke with him as he drove on the 15 North towards the Big Neon Glitter.

Brett, what do you have going today?
Well, I’m just coming from practicing supercross. I practiced Tuesday, Wednesday and today to get ready for this weekend. So this was my last day of riding supercross until the end of the year. Maybe I’ll shed a tear (laughter).

Your 2008 supercross season got off to a bad start with a 19th at the Anaheim opener. Then things came right and you reeled off a number of podium finishes. All things considered and with all now said and done, how do you feel about your performance in the West Region?
Obviously, the start was bad. Anaheim was a disappointing race and the wrong way to get started on a championship. It was really disappointing because up to then, things were going great. We had high expectations and that race put us in a downer mood. It’s hard to rebuild when that happens. But then I came back with a third at Phoenix and that was really cool. From that point on I was in the top five all season. The season was up-and-down. I had good rides but not an amazing race. I had that one bad race, but then everyone had one bad race. Overall, I was happy with the outcome. I would have liked to have been battling for the lead and have more race wins, but I lacked a little speed. At the end of the season I felt like I was closing in on speed. I’m happy with my season. It was my best ever finish to place fourth overall. I was consistent and improved a lot.

Are you looking forward to the Dave Coombs Senior East/West Shootout? I know a number of riders take it lightly — even your boss Mitch Payton takes it lightly — but it seems like it would be a cool race to win…
For me, this is the third year to race and the other two years I didn’t even qualify so I feel like I have something to prove in it. Championship-wise, it doesn’t have any meaning, but there really are some bragging rights in winning it. For myself, to go out and pick up a win would be huge. It would be far better than anything else that has happened this year. For me, the race has a lot of meaning. For me it can be an opportunity to improve myself and get to the next level.

The Las Vegas track sounds bitchin’ It’s cool to see LiveNation go to town on a track like this. Of what you’ve heard about it, what do you think?
I think it’s real cool. That big flat track turn is fun and it’s cool to go out of the stadium and come back in. I’ve also heard there are some other obstacles that are pretty radical. I heard there’s this big ski jump you land flat on. I don’t know how big I am on that as it sounds like it can be hard on your body, but we’ll see how it goes. Vegas is technical and hardpack and one of the most demanding tracks of the year.

And what of the 1:15 lap times?
I think that’s going to be cool. It’ll be nice to race a main event that won’t be over in 10 minutes. It’s all good for me. The longer lap times are better. I’m like a steamroller — it takes a while foe the engine to get going. I’m hoping the physical nature of the track will be in my favor.

What’s the goal for Saturday evening?
I’m going for the win. No doubt. There is no reason not to. I have some good momentum going. There’s no point to hold back.

Hey, what do you think of Las Vegas itself?
I don’t know. I’ve never lived it up Full Vegas Style. I don’t really enjoy it. I guess it’s not my scene. I know some people love it, but a couple of days is more than enough for me.

The Nationals are less than a month away and I know you’re more of an outdoor guy. Are things shaping up well with your Motocross Lites program?
Everything looks strong and up for me. Man, it’s going to be such a competitive series. It’ll be awesome and I feel I’ll be one of the strongest guys. Me, I feel great. My bike is great. The team is ready to roll.

You missed rounds two through five in the 2007 AMA National Lites Championship Series, but when you came back, you were never out of the top five. If you would not have wound up hurt at the beginning of the series, would you have been there at the end?
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, a couple of guys got hurt, but besides those two guys [Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley] I think I was one of the strongest guys. This year, the first five rounds will be full hammer and tongue. A lot of guys will go for it and then after that, a pack will break away. I want to be one of those guys.

Who do you see being in the mix?
Obviously, Ryan. No doubt. The champions, [Trey] Canard and Jason Lawrence will be in there. Ryan Dungey, Broc Hepler, Austin Stroupe, Branden Jesseman and all the Honda dudes — Josh Grant and those guys — will be very tough. In that top bunch there are so many good riders. It’s hard to say. I just want to be in the top five, get the ball rolling and push hard.

What’s your overall goal for the 2008 National Championship?
My main goal is to win a race. I have not achieved that in m career in America. In the big picture, I want to win the championship. Even if I won the championship without winning a race, I’d be bummed. My main goal is to pull off a win.

Okay, my friend. Be safe on the rest of your drive and well see you over there on Saturday.
Thanks, Eric. Sounds cool. See you in Vegas.

Eric Johnson