(Editor's note: PBR media release)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After the bulls dominated Round 1 of PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) 2020 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) Finals inside Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, the best bull riders in the world answered the call on championship Saturday, none more than Texas cowboy Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas).
Friday night’s Round 1 winner, Taylor rebounded from hitting the dirt early in Round 2 aboard Empire (Nothin’ But Try Ranch/’Diggers Bucking Bulls) by putting up his second 90.5-point ride of the weekend when the stakes were at the highest. Taylor conquered Marquis Metal Works Draggin Up (Paradigm Bull Co./Marquis Metal Works) in the championship round Saturday evening to secure his first PWVT Finals event win and the 2020 PWVT Championship.
“I just come here to have fun,” said Taylor after winning the 2020 PWVT Championship. “It’s ridiculous how much money we can win riding bulls now. I want to be a rich cowboy, so I just gotta keep my hand shut.”
Taylor is well on the way to his dream, winning $60,146.67 this weekend in Sioux Falls, while also netting 90 world points, moving him up one more spot in the world standings to No. 9 ahead of the 2020 PBR World Finals on Nov. 12-15 in Arlington, Texas.
A new face to PBR fans, Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) took second place at the season-ending event of PBR’s expansion tour. After his fourth-place finish in Round 1, Oliver also turned in a big 90.5-point ride, his coming in Round 2 aboard GT-478E (GT Bucking Bulls/Cody Garrett). The Utah native was not able to capitalize in the championship round and was dispatched by Hanna Motors Power Dozer (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) in 1.67 seconds.
The second-place finish gave Oliver 57 world points and $16,880. It also punches his ticket to his first ever PBR World Finals as he rocketed from No. 57 to No. 37 in the world standings.
Taylor and Oliver’s moves weren’t the only shake-up in the 2020 world standings. World No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) finished third in the event, going a perfect 2-for-2 on Saturday after missing the mark in Round 1.
Vieira took on Barrier Grief (Savage Bucking Bulls/Mike McKee) in Round 2, matching the bovine move for move for 88 points. That punched his ticket to the championship round, where he drew Sun Country (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/WSM Auctioneers).
Blowing out of the chutes on Sun Country’s back, Vieira bested his counterpart for 88.5 points. The ride locked him in third, earning himself 34.5 world points and $8,826.67.
The points cut the lead of world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) – who went 0-for-2 on the event – to 424.59 points heading into the World Finals.
Brazilian Alex Cardozo (Indaiatuba, Brazil) went 2-for-3 on the weekend, finishing fourth in the event. Cardozo drew Payin Debts (Gary Long/Dean Wilson) in Round 1, but was beat in 7.65 seconds.
Cardozo rebounded on championship Saturday with two qualified rides. First was a 90-point ride aboard Buck Norris (D&H Cattle Co./Gordon/Ok Corralis) in Round 2, placing him second in the round. The championship round gave Cardozo Outlaw (Hart Cattle Co./Hale), who he fought to the 8-second whistle for 86.5 points.
The finish earned Cardozo 38.5 world points, along with $10,426.67. Those points were enough to push him to his second career PBR World Finals. Cardozo is one of the four PWVT riders punching their tickets to the biggest event in bull riding.
Rounding out the Top 5 was Andre da Cruz de Souza (Decatur, Texas) with his 2-for-3 performance. Splitting the fifth-place finish in Round 1 on Friday night, Souza drew Anthrax Jr. (EVP Bucking Bulls) in Round 2.
Souza took care of business aboard the black spotted bull and was marked 84 points after the 8-second whistle. Cold Chill (D&H Cattle Co./Futrell) proved too much in the championship round, sending Souza to the dirt in 2.17 seconds.
The fifth-place event finish gave Souza 18.5 world points and $3,920. He is another one of the four riders who are taking advantage of the PWVT to qualify for the 2020 World Finals, as fans will catch him in Arlington beginning Thursday night in AT&T Stadium thanks to his Sioux Falls performance.
Cody Campbell (Summerville, Oregon) and 41-year-old Wallace Vieira de Oliveira (Goiania, Brazil) round out the four PWVT qualifiers for the 2020 World Finals, both riding their way in through the PBR’s premier expansion tour.
Saturday night also concluded the ABBI (American Bucking Bull Inc.) World Finals Derby Event. 34E Juju (Julian/D&H Cattle) claimed the 2020 ABBI World Finals Derby Champion title with a 93.6-point performance for a $29,000 payout.
E18 Cuttin Torch (Flinn/D&H Cattle) placed second with 91.8 points in the finals event but earned the 2020 ABBI Derby World Champion title due to his consistent performances throughout the season for a paycheck of $22,400.
With 91.2 points, 741 Butterfly Kisses (Copenhaver/Rockin T/Hilton) took third place while bucking off Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) for $12,520. There was a tie between 172 Hang Em High (Bryan Smith/Nathan Doss) and 15E Red Mosquito (Cord McCoy/Zach Muegge/Twisted T) with both bulls notching 90.4 points apiece to win $8,880 each.
Professional Bull Riders
2020 PWVT VELOCITY TOUR FINALS PRESENTED BY FIRST PREMIER BANK AND PREMIER BANKCARD
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center – Sioux Falls, S.D.
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Mason Taylor, 90.5-0-90.5-181.00-90 Points.
2. Kyler Oliver, 87.5-90.5-0-178.00-57 Points.
3. João Ricardo Vieira, 0-88-88.5-176.50-34.5 Points.
(tie). Alex Cardozo, 0-90-86.5-176.50-38.5 Points.
5. Andre da Cruz de Souza, 87-84-0-171.00-18.5 Points.
6. Lucas Divino, 90-0-0-90.00-19 Points.
7. Dalton Kasel, 0-89.5-0-89.50-12 Points.
8. Dener Barbosa, 0-89-0-89.00-4 Points.
9. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 88.5-0-0-88.50-7 Points.
10. Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 87-0-0-87.00-2.5 Points.
(tie). Lucas Fideles Souza, 0-87-0-87.00-2 Points.
12. Daylon Swearingen, 0-86-0-86.00-0.5 Points.
(tie). Chase Dougherty, 0-86-0-86.00-0.5 Points.
14. Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-85.5-0-85.50
15. Alex Cerqueira, 0-85-0-85.00
(tie). Taylor Toves, 0-85-0-85.00
(tie). Junior Patrik Souza, 85-0-0-85.00-1 Points.
(tie). Ky Hamilton, 0-85-0-85.00
19. Dakota Louis, 83-0-0-83.00
20. Luciano De Castro, 79.5-0-0-79.50
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00
Joao Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00
Tye Chandler, 0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0.00
Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 0-0-0-0.00
Amadeu Campos Silva, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Ferreira Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Casper, 0-0-0-0.00
Bradley Brittain, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
Keith Hall, 0-0-0-0.00
Devon Weaver, 0-0-0-0.00
Grayson Cole, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0-0.00
Joseph McConnel, 0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Jones, 0-0-0-0.00
Alex Santana, 0-0-0-0.00
Tyler Werner, 0-0-0-0.00
Pedro Fonseca, 0-0-0-0.00
Leonardo Lima, 0-0-0-0.00
Javier Garcia, 0-0-0-0.00
Romildo Rodrigues, 0-0-0-0.00
Venn Johns, 0-0-0-0.00
2020 Professional Bull Riders World Standings
(Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5's, Points, Total Winnings)
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 42, 17, 25, 1,341.50, $521,431.57
2. João Ricardo Vieira, 31, 4, 13, 916.91, $272,240.85
3. Kaique Pacheco, 30, 1, 10, 653.50, $147,303.77
4. Daylon Swearingen, 44, 4, 13, 603.16, $240,945.37
5. Jess Lockwood, 20, 1, 10, 596.00, $219,947.63
6. Lucas Divino, 32, 2, 11, 571.50, $150,498.53
7. Cooper Davis, 26, 4, 17, 562.00, $140,215.14
8. Colten Jesse, 42, 4, 12, 472.00, $124,971.29
9. Mason Taylor, 37, 3, 9, 422.75, $129,399.94
10. Derek Kolbaba, 41, 4, 11, 366.00, $78,744.93
11. Ezekiel Mitchell, 37, 1, 6, 334.00, $76,722.55
12. Dener Barbosa, 17, 2, 7, 327.41, $83,937.49
13. Cole Melancon, 35, 2, 6, 314.50, $219,179.96
14. Eduardo Aparecido, 23, 0, 4, 311.00, $74,272.67
15. Alex Cerqueira, 28, 1, 6, 259.50, $56,822.26
16. Fabiano Vieira, 23, 3, 6, 258.50, $48,203.97
17. Brennon Eldred, 29, 1, 4, 257.50, $73,191.38
18. Cody Teel, 26, 0, 4, 256.25, $112,677.88
19. Marco Eguchi, 25, 3, 11, 254.75, $78,533.76
20. Ramon de Lima, 19, 1, 2, 248.16, $86,362.79
21. Matt Triplett, 30, 3, 8, 241.50, $122,496.48
22. Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 38, 4, 11, 221.83, $59,420.90
23. Andrew Alvidrez, 32, 2, 7, 217.66, $58,934.11
24. Aaron Kleier, 31, 4, 13, 214.83, $45,361.58
25. Stetson Lawrence, 33, 1, 8, 203.00, $71,445.93
26. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 26, 3, 9, 200.00, $79,717.38
27. Silvano Alves, 37, 1, 5, 197.00, $55,671.95
28. Claudio Montanha Jr., 23, 0, 3, 185.00, $48,922.84
29. J.B. Mauney, 9, 0, 4, 184.00, $35,208.02
30. Lachlan Richardson, 19, 4, 9, 166.00, $52,577.61
31. Dakota Buttar, 19, 5, 10, 155.00, $38,826.63
32. Joao Henrique Lucas, 32, 1, 4, 151.91, $32,689.26
33. Boudreaux Campbell, 19, 1, 6, 140.66, $103,171.36
34. Taylor Toves, 27, 1, 3, 140.00, $49,030.35
35. Tye Chandler, 11, 1, 3, 123.33, $29,556.67
36. Ryan Dirteater, 15, 0, 6, 120.00, $57,061.41
37. Kyler Oliver, 12, 2, 5, 116.00, $27,489.25
38. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 25, 1, 6, 106.00, $31,043.02
39. Amadeu Campos Silva, 33, 0, 4, 104.66, $31,425.29
40. Junior Patrik Souza, 32, 0, 5, 104.50, $26,817.17
41. Dakota Louis, 39, 1, 7, 103.00, $46,937.23
42. Marcus Mast, 39, 0, 7, 99.16, $34,598.99
43. Alex Cardozo, 17, 0, 4, 96.33, $18,584.63
44. Paulo Ferreira Lima, 30, 1, 6, 93.00, $28,914.15
45. Brock Radford, 26, 2, 9, 92.16, $29,906.25
