(PBR release)
MANCHESTER, N.H. – In front of a record-setting, sold-out crowd Saturday night inside SNHU Arena, Jose VItor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) earned his first round win of the 2020 season, victorious in Round 1 of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast’s Manchester Invitational in Manchester, New Hampshire.
As the penultimate man to leave the chutes at the first-ever elite tour event in the city, the Brazilian phenom brought the raucous crowd of more than 7,200 people to its feet when he covered Slingin Tears (Blake Sharp/Caveman Bucking Bulls) for 89 points.
The 8-second effort earned Leme $3,580 in addition to a crucial 20 world points, propelling him from No. 6 to No. 5 in the world standings. He now trails No. 1 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) by a mere 124 points.
Pacheco also recorded a qualified ride Saturday night at the Manchester Invitational, tying for fifth with Junio Quareisma (Meridiano, Brazil).
Both Brazilians recorded 86.25-point rides, aboard Blonde Blizzard (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) and High Hopes (Deer Prairie Creek Bucking Bulls/5S Bucking Bulls), respectively, to net 6.5 world points and $725.
For 2018 PBR World Champion Pacheco, the ride not only marked his eighth consecutive 8-second effort on the elite tour, perfect thus far on the Unleash The Beast in 2020, but also allowed him to extend his lead atop the world rankings.
He enters Sunday afternoon’s Round 2 of the Manchester Invitational 33 points ahead of No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil).
Competing on the premier series for the first time since September 2019, Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) finished second to earn 10 world points and $2,750. He in turn climbed from No. 18 to No. 15 in the world standings.
Barbosa delivered the second-best score of the night when he covered Big Shot (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 87.5 points.
Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma) was third courtesy of his 87.25-point trip on Gubber (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls).
The newly minted Team USA Wolves rider for the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, earned 9 world points and a check for $2,000.
Jesse is now ranked No. 8 in the world, climbing from the No. 13 position at the start of the event. He trails No. 1 Pacheco by a slim 81 points.
Two-time PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) enters Championship Sunday fourth after riding Comanche (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 86.5 points in Round 1.
The Top 5 ride earned him $1,300, in addition to 8 world points.
Lockwood remains No. 4 in the world, now within 84.5 points of the No. 1 ranking.
Earlier in the night, Lockwood watched on as younger brother Jake Lockwood made his premier series debut. Rising to the occasion, Jake delivered the 14th-best score of the round on a night that bore witness to 17 qualified rides, covering Up North Outlaw (Little Acres Ranch) for 82.25 points.
Fans can relive all the action from Round 1 starting on Sunday, January 19 at 8:00 a.m. EST on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile App.
The PBR Unleash The Beast’s Manchester Invitational continues on Sunday, January 19 at 1:45 p.m. EST with Round 2 and the championship round. CBS Sports Network will bring viewers a complete recap of the final day of competition starting at 8:00 p.m. EST (check your local listings) while RidePass’ listen LIVE stream will begin at 1:45 pm. EST.
PBR Unleash The Beast
Manchester Invitational
SNHU Arena – Manchester, New Hampshire
(Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 89-0-0-89.00-20 Points.
2. Dener Barbosa, 87.5-0-0-87.50-10 Points.
3. Colten Jesse, 87.25-0-0-87.25-9 Points.
4. Jess Lockwood, 86.5-0-0-86.50-8 Points.
5. Kaique Pacheco, 86.25-0-0-86.25-6.5 Points.
(tie). Junio Quaresima, 86.25-0-0-86.25-6.5 Points.
7. Brady Fielder, 85.5-0-0-85.50-5 Points.
8. João Ricardo Vieira, 84.25-0-0-84.25-4 Points.
9. Daylon Swearingen, 84-0-0-84.00-2.5 Points.
(tie). Amadeu Campos Silva, 84-0-0-84.00-2.5 Points.
11. Mason Taylor, 83.25-0-0-83.25-1 Points.
12. Marcus Mast, 83-0-0-83.00
13. Claudio Montanha Jr., 82.5-0-0-82.50
14. Jake Lockwood, 82.25-0-0-82.25
15. Bradley Brittain, 82-0-0-82.00
16. Luciano De Castro, 81-0-0-81.00
17. Alan de Souza, 70.5-0-0-70.50
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0.00
Aaron Kleier, 0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Brock Radford, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Dylan Smith, 0-0-0-0.00
Lawson Nobbs, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0-0-0.00
Michael Lane, 0-0-0-0.00
Scottie Knapp, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0.00
