(Editor's note: PBR media release)
CHICAGO – In front of a roaring crowd inside Allstate Arena, defending World Champion and current world No. 3 Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) used a re-ride option in Round 1 of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) 2020 Chicago Invitational to make his second-straight trip to the Can-Am Cage for a round win.
In a night that saw 20 qualified rides, Lockwood drew JJ Da Boss(Phenom Genetics/Spurs West LLC/Sankey Pro Rodeo) and heard the 8 second whistle, but was awarded a re-ride which came on Hy Test(Phenom Genetics/Sankey Pro Rodeo). As Hy Test burst out of the chute, Lockwood matched him move for move, riding his way to 89 points. The first place finish in Round 1 earned Lockwood $3,580 along with 20 world points. The 20 world points was not enough to change the rankings, as Lockwood remains No. 3.
Lockwood’s 89-point performance was just 0.75 points better than the two riders that tied for second place, Matt Triplett (Columbia Falls, Montana) and 2019 world No. 2 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas Do Rio Pardo, Brazil). The duo earned 9.5 world points and $2,375 for their 88.25-point rides aboard Soup In a Group (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Wilks Ranch) and Lil Man (Phenom Genetics/Sankey Pro Rodeo), respectively.
Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York), a 2019 PBR Rookie of the Year challenger, finished fourth in the round after the young gun covered Invizibull Fire (Cord McCoy/Bruce Wold) for 87.75 points. For his efforts, Swearingen was awarded $1,300 and eight world points. Swearingen remains the No. 5 bull rider in the world standings heading into Round 2.
Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) was able to capitalize on night one of the second event of the 2020 season, after conquering Apper’s Mind Freak (Jo-Z Bucking Bulls/K-C Bucking Bulls/Spark-Lin-Acres) for 87.25 points. The $725 and 6.5 world points that Kolbaba’s tie for a fifth-place finish netted him, pushed him up one spot to No. 6 in the world. Cannon Cravens (Porum, Oklahoma), who missed the majority of the 2019 season due to injury, covered his draw Arctic Assassin (Phenom Genetics/Swalin/Sankey Pro Rodeo), for 87.25 points as well, earning him $725 and 6.5 world points. Cravens is now No. 28 in the world.
Texan Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) started the snowy night off hot, staying aboard Tested Crazy (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhard) for 8 seconds in the first out of the night. The ride got the crowd on their feet, earning 86.75 points. Even though Mitchell had a tight hold on the leaderboard for most of the night, he finished the round in the No. 8 spot. Mitchell heads into Round 2 with $370 and four more world points than he entered the Windy City with, and is now No. 65 in the world.
Championship Sunday from Chicago will begin Sunday at 11:45 p.m. MTN. CBS Sports Network will broadcast all the action at 8 p.m. MTN.
PBR Unleash The Beast
CHICAGO INVITATIONAL
Allstate Arena – Chicago, Illinois
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jess Lockwood, 89-0-0-89.00-20 Points.
2. Jose Vitor Leme, 88.25-0-0-88.25-9.5 Points.
(tie). Matt Triplett, 88.25-0-0-88.25-9.5 Points.
4. Daylon Swearingen, 87.75-0-0-87.75-8 Points.
5. Derek Kolbaba, 87.25-0-0-87.25-6.5 Points.
(tie). Cannon Cravens, 87.25-0-0-87.25-6.5 Points.
7. Claudio Montanha Jr., 87-0-0-87.00-5 Points.
8. Ezekiel Mitchell, 86.75-0-0-86.75-4 Points.
9. Aaron Kleier, 86.5-0-0-86.50-3 Points.
10. Lucas Divino, 85.5-0-0-85.50-2 Points.
11. Stetson Lawrence, 85.25-0-0-85.25-1 Points.
12. Kaique Pacheco, 85-0-0-85.00
(tie). Fabiano Vieira, 85-0-0-85.00
(tie). Gage Gay, 85-0-0-85.00
15. Michael Lane, 84.5-0-0-84.50
16. Cody Teel, 83.25-0-0-83.25
17. Bradley Brittain, 81.75-0-0-81.75
18. Alisson De Souza, 77.75-0-0-77.75
19. Eduardo Aparecido, 75.75-0-0-75.75
20. Rubens Barbosa, 72.5-0-0-72.50
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0.00
Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0.00
Alan de Souza, 0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0.00
Troy Wilkinson, 0-0-0-0.00
Brock Radford, 0-0-0-0.00
Dylan Smith, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
Brady Fielder, 0-0-0-0.00
Ramon de Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0-0.00
Scottie Knapp, 0-0-0-0.00
Junio Quaresima, 0-0-0-0.00
