(Editor's note: PBR release)
GUTHRIE, Okla. – At the historic third closed-to-fans PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast event inside Lazy E Arena in Logan County, Oklahoma, the world’s Top 35 bull riders continued to pioneer the return of professional sports in an empty arena on a night where the bovine athletes reigned supreme.
With bull power in full force, only six cowboys recorded qualified rides on the opening night of the two-day PBR Lucas Oil Invitational.
Compliments of his 88.75-point score aboard Hell on the Red (Bill Henson/Gene Owen), young gun Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) won Round 1.
The ride marked Taylor’s second round win of the 2020 season and also snapped a three-out buckoff streak for the 20-year-old. He earned $3,750 and 20 world points.
After beginning the event No. 17 in the world, the Texan climbed one position to No. 16.
In Round 2, Taylor will face a familiar opponent, set to attempt God’s Country (Owens/Wyatt/Smith) for the second time in his career.
When the duo first met last weekend at the Lazy E, God’s Country bested Taylor in a swift 4.71 seconds.
Three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) further etched his name in the PBR record books tonight, courtesy of his 82.5-point, fifth-place ride aboard Sidewinder (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.) in Round 1.
The 8-second effort marked the Brazilian veteran’s 414th career ride on the elite Unleash The Beast.
After surpassing two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers (Jonesville, Louisiana) for fifth-most rides all-time last weekend, Alves is now within 15 rides of tying Valdiron de Oliveira (Balcimo, Brazil) for fourth in the league history books. Shivers logged 412 rides in his career, while Oliveira reached the 8-second whistle 429 times.
PBR’s 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi (Tres Lagoas, Brazil) leads the league with 635, followed by two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina) with 528, and 2004 World Champion Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) with 525.
Alves’ latest ride netted him seven world points, propelling him from No. 49 to No. 42 in the world.
In Round 2 of the PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, Alves will attempt Bullseye (Owens/Wyatt/Smith/Mears). After propelling Alves’s countryman Fabiano Vieira (Perola, Brazil) to the event victory at the first premier series event held inside Lazy E Arena in late April, Bullseye got the best of Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) last weekend.
The opening night of PBR’s final event at the Lazy E to finish a three-weekend stand also featured a breakthrough performance from phenom Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington).
Kolbaba snapped a five-out buckoff streak in riding Caddy Black (Owens/Wyatt/Smith) for 81.75 points to finish sixth in the opening round.
Kolbaba earned six world points, maintaining his No. 19 ranking.
World No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) was not among the contingent celebrating the evening’s six qualified rides.
Leme was bucked off by rank, high-kicking M.A.G.A. (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.), in an uncharacteristic 1.84 seconds.
As he looks to redeem himself on Championship Sunday, the former semi-professional soccer player will attempt a bovine athlete in a high-profile rubber match.
Leme will face Blue Crush (Cord McCoy/Chad Reese) for the third time in his career. With both their outs on record taking place at the annual January Unleash The Beast event in Chicago, Leme first rode Blue Crush for 87.25 points in 2019, before being bucked off in 5.61 seconds this season.
Rookie of the Year contender Amadeu Campos Silva (Atair, Brazil) was second in Round 1, earning $2,500 and 10 world points, after completing an 87.5-point trip aboard Real Gun (Cord McCoy/Graber/Gallagher).
Climbing one position in the world standings, now No. 30, Silva will attempt Honey Man (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) in Round 2 as he seeks his first premier series event win.
Third was Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil).
As the first rider to log a qualified ride, Cerqueira covered Spit Out The Bone (Cord McCoy/Double R) for 84.75 points to net $2,000 and nine world points.
The 8-second effort marks the second time Cerqueira has been able to cover the bovine athlete. The duo first squared off this January when Cerqueira reached the whistle for 85.5 points at the Touring Pro Division’s Cowtown PBR in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cerqueira’s performance allowed him to gain ground in the world title race. Ahead of his Round 2 matchup against Danny Boy (D&H Cattle Co./Gordon/OK Corralis), the 27-year-old rose from No. 48 to No. 41 in the world.
Rounding out the Top 5 in fourth was Divino, riding Eye of the Storm (McCoy Ranches) for 84.25 points.
Nabbing a paycheck for $1,250, along with eight world points, Divino maintained his world No. 12 rank.
The PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, will conclude with Round 2 and the championship round on Sunday, May 17. CBS Sports Network and RidePass’ LIVE coverage of Round 2 will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Starting at 2:00 p.m. ET, CBS Sports will televise the championship round LIVE, as PBR’s historic trio of events concludes inside Lazy E Arena, utilizing a health and safety plan that has been reviewed by more than a dozen other sports leagues and organizing bodies.
Fans can relive all the action from Round 1 of the PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, starting at 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 17, on RidePass at RidePass.com or via the mobile app.
PBR Unleash The Beast
PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol
Lazy E Arena – Guthrie, Oklahoma
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Mason Taylor, 88.75-0-0-88.75-20 Points.
2. Amadeu Campos Silva, 87.5-0-0-87.50-10 Points.
3. Alex Cerqueira, 84.75-0-0-84.75-9 Points.
4. Lucas Divino, 84.25-0-0-84.25-8 Points.
5. Silvano Alves, 82.75-0-0-82.75-7 Points.
6. Derek Kolbaba, 81.75-0-0-81.75-6 Points.
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00
Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0.00
Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0.00
Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gula Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00
Tye Chandler, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Joao Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0.00
Jake Lockwood, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Casper, 0-0-0-0.00
Rafael dos Santos, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Kasel, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0.00
Keith Hall, 0-0-0-0.00
Devon Weaver, 0-0-0-0.00
Joseph McConnel, 0-0-0-0.00
Grayson Cole, 0-0-0-0.00
Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
