Image: Simon Cudby.

At today’s pre-race press conference for this weekend’s Monster Energy Cup, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, Davi Millsaps, Eli Tomac, Trey Canard, Blake Baggett, Justin Barcia and more discussed the race with the media at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium.

Two-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion Reed will bring a Monster Energy Cup best finish of fourth place to this year’s race and hopes to add this title to his impressive resume.

“I’ve been on vacation for the last couple of months,” said Reed. “For the most part, supercross comes pretty naturally to me. If everything feels good tomorrow, I won’t second guess it and I will be out there on the track to give it a shot.”

Consistency tells Dungey’s story at the Monster Energy Cup. He has finished second at every race since it began in 2011, but the former Monster Energy Supercross Champion does not want to settle for second this year.

“There’s a lot at stake tomorrow,” said Dungey. “It’s not everything, but I want to do good. This track is different than any other track. I was caught up last year in trying to catch Villopoto and missed the joker lane during the first main event.

“It was embarrassing, but it didn’t feel so bad after Villopoto missed it in the second main event. I will not be missing it this year.”

Millsaps will make his debut ride for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team after missing the entire 2014 Monster Energy Supercross season.

“We don’t come here to lose,” stated Millsaps. “I would like to win. It’s been a long time since I’ve been behind a starting gate. My biggest expectations are to do my best and see what I need to work on coming in to Anaheim.

“Coming here on a new time and a new bike, everything has been great so far. The guys at Monster Energy Kawasaki are great and I’m looking forward to tomorrow and to see what we can push for.”

Tomac is coming off a fourth place finish at last year’s race and a third the year before. A former 250SX Class Champion Tomac moved to the 450SX Class this year but injuries kept him sidelined for much of the season.

“I feel good right now,” said Tomac. “For me, I haven’t really had an off season. My body feels good, I feel like I’m in a good racing mode. I’m ready to go out there and do some fighting. Everyone does their own thing and it’s cool because that’s what this race something different.”

After missing the first 12 races of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Canard returned to racing but did not make his way to the podium. This will be Canard’s first-ever Monster Energy Cup.

“I’ve never raced the Monster Energy Cup so I’m excited,” said Canard. “I’ve been watching it on TV for the last three years, so it’s fun to be able to be a part of it this time. A million dollars is up for grabs so it is obviously in the back of our minds. The biggest thing is to get good starts and race consistent laps.”

Like Millsaps, Baggett will make a debut on a new team, Yoshimura Suzuki, as he transitions from the 250SX Class to the 450SX Class.

“Tomorrow night I am looking to be steady on the bike,” said Baggett. “We’re looking to see where we’re at for the supercross season after this race. I’ve been working on my starts and trying to get my feet wet in the 450SX Class and see where we end up.”

Also racing with a new team and bike tomorrow night is Barcia. The 2012 Monster Energy Cup Champion will be looking to better his last results since winning the championship and taking home the million dollars.

“I wasn’t able to finish the outdoors season, but I am feeling good now,” explained Barcia. “I’m happy with my bike and I am getting more and more comfortable. Winning the Monster Energy Cup in 2012 was awesome. It would have been nice to win the million dollars, but winning is always nice.”

Also announced at today’s press conference was the 2015 Monster Energy Cup date of 17 October. Stay tuned for more across the weekend.