(PBR media release)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In front of a packed house on Saturday night, Matt Triplett (Columbia Falls, Montana) broke through with some much-needed points, winning Round 1 of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast, Caterpillar Classic presented by Cooper Tires.
“When you’re riding in a slump you just gotta ride out of it,” Triplett said. “My dad told me, ‘Quit thinking,’ and that’s what I’ve tried to do.”
Triplett surged atop the leaderboard after an 89.75-point ride aboard Hocus Pocus (D&H Cattle Co./Barthold/Almand) late in the event. The Montana cowboy’s ride helped avenge a 1.83-second buckoff suffered in Round 4 of the PBR World Finals in November.
With the round win he earned 100 points towards the world standings but more importantly earned enough points to jump 14 spots, from 46th in the world to 32nd.
Brazilian Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) finished in second place after he covered Bulls Eye (Mears/Broken Arrow/Owens) for 89 points. Castro earned 60 world points with the ride as he brought the crowd inside Sprint Center to its feet.
Castro continues to hold onto 5th in the world standings.
Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) seems to have gotten over the slump that has plagued him the last couple of weeks. With rides in the last two events, he is holding steady at the No. 6 spot in the world standings.
The Cherokee Kid finished in third place in Round 1 with an 87.75-point ride on Mad Child (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb). With the finish he earned 50 world points.
In fourth place was Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee). The 10th rider out in Round 1, Nance launched out of the chutes and covered Pan Am (Mason/Hart/Plummer) for 87.25 points.
Nance earned 40 points towards the world standings but will be unable to compete in Round 2 after suffering an apparent left hip dislocation while dismounting after his ride.
Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas Goias, Brazil) rounded out the Top 5 with 87 points aboard Sober Sensation (Cord McCoy/Moline Cattle Co.). He earned 30 world points and is holding steady as the 20th-ranked bull rider in the world.
Saturday night also included the American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) Classic event. An ABBI Classic competition is the next step in a young bovine’s competitive career with these bulls starting and finishing these Classic events under PBR bull riders.
Concealed Carry (Rockin R Bucking Bulls/Jerry Rush) sealed the top spot of the night with an 88.6-point performance for $9,075 in earnings. This is the bovine’s second ABBI Classic event win this season, with his first victory taking place in Oklahoma City this January. Concealed Carry now ranks No. 1 in the ABBI Classic Standings after capturing this title.
A three-way tie took place between Hammerhead Blu (CG Bucking Bulls/Halpain), Hocus Pocus (Barthold/Alamnd/D&H Cattle) and Heavy D (Paradigm Bull Co.) for second with each bull posting 87.6 points for $4,739.17 apiece. Bulls Eye (Mears/Broken Arrow/Owens) rounded out the Top 5 with 87.4 points to take home $2,571.25.
Round 2 and the championship round will begin at 2:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 24 from Kansas City. CBS Sports Network will air all the action from Round 2 and the championship round at 8:00 p.m. ET that night.
Saturday’s Round 1 will be viewable Sunday starting at 8 a.m. ET on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile app.
PBR Unleash The Beast Event Results
Caterpillar Classic, presented by Cooper Tires
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Kansas
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Matt Triplett, 89.75-0-0-89.75-100 Points.
2. Luciano De Castro, 89-0-0-89.00-60 Points.
3. Ryan Dirteater, 87.75-0-0-87.75-50 Points.
4. Cody Nance, 87.25-0-0-87.25-40 Points.
5. Lucas Divino, 87-0-0-87.00-30 Points.
6. Alisson De Souza, 86.75-0-0-86.75-6.66 Points.
(tie). Derek Kolbaba, 86.75-0-0-86.75-6.66 Points.
(tie). Dylan Smith, 86.75-0-0-86.75-6.66 Points.
9. Stetson Lawrence, 86.25-0-0-86.25
10. Chase Outlaw, 86-0-0-86.00
11. Eduardo Aparecido, 85-0-0-85.00
12. Claudio Montanha Jr., 83-0-0-83.00
13. Danilo Carlos Sobrinho, 79.5-0-0-79.50
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jesus, 0-0-0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
J.B. Mauney, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Daniel Tinsman, 0-0-0-0.00
Scottie Knapp, 0-0-0-0.00
Junio Quaresima, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0.00
Stormy Wing, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00
Sean Willingham, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0.00
Ruger Piva, 0-0-0-0.00
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0.00
Justin Granger, 0-0-0-0.00
Luis Escobedo, 0-0-0-0.00
