(PBR release)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In front of an energetic California crowd, Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) earned his second round victory of the 2020 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast (UTB) season by claiming the Round 1 win at the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic in Sacramento.
After the steadfast Brazilian rider fired out of the chutes aboard Anthrax (EVP Bucking Bulls), the crowd’s cheers rose to a deafening level inside of Golden 1 Center as the ride score of 88 points was announced.
The Round 1 effort earned Leme $3,580 in addition to 20 world points. Moving from No. 6 in the world standings to No.5, Leme now trails No. 1 Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) by a mere 118.5 points.
The heated world title race of 2019 between Lockwood and Leme made a triumphant return Friday night inside of Golden 1 Center with Lockwood finishing in second place.
The two-time World Champion maintained his hold on the No.1 spot in the world standings with an impressive ride aboard Cold Water Willie (D&H Cattle Company) for 87.75 points. His successful 8 seconds earned him $2,750, in addition to 10 world points.
In a night dominated by the bulls, where only 10 qualified rides were recorded, the 2019 Sacramento winner and current No. 2 man in the world standings Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) was disposed by Tupac (Hawkins Bucking Bulls/ B Bar) after just 2.53 seconds. Vieira now trails Lockwood by 24.5 points.
Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu Sao Paulo, Brazil) finished third in Round 1 courtesy of his 87.5-point trip on Twisted X (Hawkins Bucking Bulls/ Arthur Saabye/ B Bar). The young Brazilian earned 9 world points and a check for $2,000.
Montanha Jr. is now ranked No. 17 in the world, rising from the No. 22 position at the start of the event.
In his regular-season debut, Leandro Machado (Nova Esperanca, Brazil) conquered Danny Boy (D&H Cattle Co/ Gordon/ OK Corralis). The No. 67 ranked rider made the 8 for 86.5 points to earn $1,300 and 8 world points.
Young gun Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) enters Round 2 on Saturday night in fifth place after riding Hitman (EVP Bucking Bulls/ EJ Cattle) for 86 points in Round 1.
The Top 5 finish earned the Texas cowboy $850 and 7 world points. Mitchell advanced from his No. 71 spot in the world standings to No. 52.
The best bull riders in the world will return to Golden 1 Center on Saturday, Jan. 25 for Round 2 of the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic. The night will also feature a special 15/15 Bucking Battle round.
PBR Unleash The Beast - Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic
Golden 1 Center -Sacramento, California
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 88-0-0-0-88.00-20 Points.
2. Jess Lockwood, 87.75-0-0-0-87.75-10 Points.
3. Claudio Montanha Jr., 87.5-0-0-0-87.50-9 Points.
4. Leandro Machado, 86.5-0-0-0-86.50-8 Points.
5. Ezekiel Mitchell, 86-0-0-0-86.00-7 Points.
6. Daylon Swearingen, 85.75-0-0-0-85.75-6 Points.
7. Junio Quaresima, 85-0-0-0-85.00-5 Points.
8. Bradley Brittain, 82-0-0-0-82.00-4 Points.
9. Marco Eguchi, 75.5-0-0-0-75.50-3 Points.
10. Fabiano Vieira, 70-0-0-0-70.00-2 Points.
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Aaron Kleier, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jake Lockwood, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Brady Fielder, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dylan Smith, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Shay Marks, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Lawson Nobbs, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Lucas Divino, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0-0.00
