Final Five Chase looms
Bonus points tempt riders in and near the Top 10
PUEBLO, Colo. (July 22, 2010) - With just four Built Ford Tough Series events left until the Final Five Chase begins, there is an added sense of uncertainty among bull riders.
The Chase will provide each rider ranked in the Top 10 an opportunity to attempt a bonus bull at the conclusion of the first round of each of the final five events.
While the points will not count toward that particular event, they will count toward the world standings. Along with the scores they receive, riders can earn double bonus points for placing in the bonus round – up to 300 points for the winner.
Riders currently in the Top 10 are beginning to wonder if the Final Five Chase will be the opportunity they need to close in on the world title. Athletes just outside of the Top 10 are thinking that if they can manage to get into the Top 10, the bonus round could be a way to make up some lost ground.
And it’s one of the few times that former riders can’t point to past experiences to illustrate potential outcomes.
As J.W. Hart said last weekend, “I have mixed emotions on it.”
“There’s a way I see it really shuffling the board up drastically over the five events,” he continued. “And then [I see] outcomes that it might not put but just a couple of points between guys, or make up a couple of points. But it all boils down to what these guys do, and what they ride and what they don’t ride.”
Mike Lee is currently ranked ninth in the world standings, but the 2004 World Champion said “No” when asked if he had thought about the Final Five Chase.
In 2004, Lee hadn’t won a single event until he won the Finals average en route to winning the world title. The 27-year-old from Decatur, Texas, said, “I just do one bull at a time.”
Last year, J.B. Mauney was involved in one of the tightest races in PBR history, and despite becoming the first man to ride all eight bulls at the World Finals, he still finished second behind Kody Lostroh.
Mauney is currently eighth in the world standings. He’s coming off eight weeks of rehabilitation after suffering a partially collapsed lung at a BFTS event in Wichita, Kan.
The 23-year-old, who is 2,967.75 points behind Renato Nunes, said, “I haven’t thought about it really a lot, but it would be a good opportunity for me to be able to make up some ground, and it’s going to really help out whoever wins.”
With four of the current Top 10 riders out of competition with injuries (Travis Briscoe, Guilherme Marchi, Robson Palermo, and Ryan McConnel), it becomes more important for those on the outside to use the next four events to get into the Top 10.
And two of those riders – Skeeter Kingsolver and Josh Koschel – are also out with injuries.
Shane Proctor, who is 12th in the standings and has four weeks to make up the 421.25 points that separate him from No. 10 McKennon Wimberly, said the Final Five Chase will “definitely show who’s the toughest of the tough.
“If you can make up (those) points – double points – you’re definitely going to put the pressure on the leaders, and it’s going to make it interesting in the long run.”
Since qualifying for the BFTS in Tampa, Fla., Jody Newberry has pressured the leaders on a weekly basis. He made the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in eight of the 15 events he’s competed in, and in seven of those the events he’s finished in the Top 10, including a win in St. Louis.
He’s still more than 4,000 points off the lead, but only 671 points behind Wimberly.
Admitted Newberry: “That’s one thing I don’t fully understand and a lot of people probably don’t, and that’s going to be the story that’s going to be told, because we’ve never done it before and it’s going to be real interesting to see how that plays out, getting those extra points at the last five events.”
Newberry won the Finals average in 2003, and J.W. Hart won it the year before. Neither man knows how this new format will affect the final outcome.
This year the Finals will be six rounds as opposed to eight – a difference of 1,000 points – and the Final Five Chase is worth a maximum of 1,500 points.
“But it’s scattered out over five weeks and not just a one-weekend deal,” Hart said, “so if a guy is going to get hot during this, he’s going to have to be hot over five weeks. It’s different for a guy to go to Las Vegas and get hot for six go-rounds.”
—by Keith Ryan Cartwright
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Twiggy: The bonus bulls for the top 10 will be scored double (a 90 point ride becomes 180 points). There is no indication that there will be additional points for placement (first, second, etc.) in the bonus rides. That would make a maximum possible score of 1000 points over those five events (100 point ride doubled x 5 events).
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ms cricket
July 23, 2010Twiggy- Thanks for the break down.You did the math. What are the chances, of say Renato doing that? Are maybe Whimbley, Mier, Brisco, or #43 Brown & JB. all top riders after Tulsa? I worry about injuries to the bullriders, all of them.
Most of the bad bulls will most likely be on thier to the Finals. Giving the riders a better chance for more points. I hope it's worth it for the cowboys.
I'd like nothing more than to see a 'come-from-behind' cowboy step-up and win. Wish you wouldn't mention Nascar. My driver ain't going so hot.lol -
Twiggy
July 22, 2010The way I understand the whole thing is each of the top 10 riders will be "offered" 1 bonus bull after the 1st round only of the last 5 events. No bonus bulls in rounds 2 or 3 (if it's a 3 day event). I could see a rider maybe getting on a total of 3 bulls in one night....1 in the regular round and a possible reride and then another in the bonus round. On a really bad night they might get on 4 if they get rerides on both their original bulls, but probably not likely. When these guys go to the practice pen its nothing for them to get on 3 or 4 bulls, so I don't see this being a huge problem....I could be wrong, and injuries could play a big part in all of this, but I sure hope not.
In doing some basic calculating, if a rider won all 5 of the bonus rounds that would give him and additional 1,500 points. In addition he would get his ride score, so lets say he won all 5 bonus rounds and scored a 90 on each one of those rides....his total points awarded would be 1,950. Highly unlikely, but none the less possible. Austin is currently 1,585 points behind Renato, so the bonus points alone (if he won all of them) would be more than enough to catch Renato, but Renato would basicaly have to fall off all of his bulls. I don't think the bonus points alone will be enough for someone to catch & p!@# the number 1 rider at the time, but they could make the point standings a lot closer. Someone is going to have to get really hot while others go cold for the bonus bulls to play much of a factor in all of this. (And no, I'm not saying the winner is already determined....there are a lot of points to be had in these last 9 events & the Finals)
This is all very similar to the Nascar chase for the cup thing. Just another way to try and make it a more interesting race. I personally don't think I will like it, but will try not to p!@# judgement on it til we see how it all shakes out. -
ms cricket
July 22, 2010This system is spelling disaster for a lot of the riders. Injuries for one thing. Having to ride more bulls in order to get more points is reckless. These bulls that they are trying to ride now are rank. I don't like it. There is nothing wrong with points system now. "If it ain't broke, don't fix-it".
webpbr- I agree. Just to many bulls, to many chances for serious injuries.
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w.caron
July 22, 2010I am sure that this new system will meet with the howling disapproval of PBR fans. Anything new gets trashed. -
webpbr
July 22, 2010davidjo7 - That is what I said earlier, Ryan was planning on riding in Tulsa and Tandy is the one that told him he couldn't. We knew Ryan was going to ride this week in a Touring Pro, but I didn't want to say what he said, just in case he changed his mind. -
davidjo7
July 22, 2010mconnel is not out for the year this is thursday the 22nd and he is in a touring pro in grand junction co tonight tandy forced him to sit tulsa -
louisiana fan
July 22, 2010Anyway you look at it the bull rider is having to work double & More than what Justin McBride,Adrino and all the former world champions had to do. Just doesn't seem like a fair playing field for these young men who have endured a brutal season to have to face all THIS before EVEN getting to the finals!I just feel sorry for the guys, about the time you think you've got a chance, they (PBR) change the rules.They have no choice in the matter, they have to do as directed because they've invested too much of blood, sweat, and money to not see it to the end.My hopes and prayers is that the riders can stay in good health and finish the season in one piece. -
webpbr
July 22, 2010Are they going to offer rerides on these "extra" rides? You can just see a guy getting on three or four bulls in one night. Then get on another the next day. Then if it is a three day, getting on another two the next day (or more if rerides are given). Also, keep in mind, near the end of the season, the last one or two events, the best bulls are not at the events. They are being moved to Las Vegas for the finals. This increases the chances of rerides. Wasn't it Uncansville last year that we had a bunch of rerides and low scores? -
louisiana fan
July 22, 2010webpbr, you seem to be knowledgeable about the sport and I know you've been to several events, so I'll lean to your and J.W.'s thinking on the matter. If I'm correct extra rides will be offered to some, so that would mean having to ride 2, 3 or 4 bulls.This could really take alot out of some guys that are dealing with injuries already.They may not be in any shape to compete in finals.I wonder who comes up with all these moves/changes? -
iscoffy
July 22, 2010I really don't understand why the PBR is adding this new system-- bull riding is fairly easy to understand. Stay on for 8 seconds, get a score, do a few rounds, add up the scores, the guy with the highest total wins. I don't know, letting some of the guys get a shot at extra points that the majority of the riders don't have a chance at just seems against the straightforward nature of the game. I guess we'll see how it plays out when it gets here, and if it sticks around. -
webpbr
July 22, 2010txbsa35 - I agree. I am not sure what mmlb876's post about politics and the point system and JB have to do with each other. I am not a fan of JB's but the new point system was announced a long time ago. I think most people thought that Kody, JB and Marchi would be in the top three, at this time of the year. Kody is out hurt, Marchi has missed many events and JB has not been riding the same. This has been one strange year. With that said, it has created more opportunities for other riders to step up and prove themselves and some have risen to the occasion.
I don't agree with this new set up, but what are you going to do? I agree with JW, in order for someone to really benefit from this set up, they have to be hot for five weeks and the other riders have to be cold. I think in the end, there will not be much of a change in the top five guys. If there is a move in the top ten, it will come from the event placings of the last five events, not the side show that will be created by these extra rides. -
louisiana fan
July 22, 2010I think it is putting alot of pressure on all the men. If you don't do well during this time I guess there is no way on earth for you to have a chance to win the finals.I agree with J.B. it'll help the one who wins but it seems to me it hinders those who don't. Double scores will make it impossible for anyone to overcome, say Nunes wins, huh, you want be able to catch him.That would have to be depressing for the other riders that are under him in points.This rates right up there with the draft, it's good for the leaders when they can hand pick a sure thing.I like marchi but that's what helped him win the finals. -
txbsa35
July 22, 2010I agree Sue, JB is thrown to the wolves again and he is not even fully recovered yet much less getting re-ride flags from judges or given higher scores (as some poeple say). He is just going down the road trying to make a living like ALL the boys do. Some will just never be happy unless they are putting others down.
I was so proud of all the boys this weekend and I hated to see Ryan M. and Marchi potentially be out for the year. -
cactus-sue
July 22, 2010txbsa35 - I hope KRC will clarify. I keep waiting for the announcers to explain and all they do is say there will be extra rides. Maybe they don't understand it either. Guess will see.
nmlb876 - This potentially gives many riders extra points. Not fair to call out JB! Don't want the firestorm to begin again! -
nmlb876
July 22, 2010
I do not agree with the double point system.To me the guys who are on top are there because they rode their bulls and did very well. By giving extra and double points to the top ten riders that's just saying well you were'nt very good throughout the season so here we will give you a few more points along the way to help you out. This country is going down the tubes. We the US is turning out to be a Buracratic Socialistic society. Maybe these extra points will help the GOLDEN BOY Mauney regain the number 1 spot. He needs all the help he can get. First it was the judges and now it is the point system. -
txbsa35
July 22, 2010Sue the only reason I can think of as to why they changed the point system is because the finals were cut down by I think 3 days so this still gives the riders the chance to make the same amount of points. I'm not sure, that was the only reason I could come up with. Maybe KRC will clarify this for us. -
reznibd
July 22, 2010Cactus-Sue, I'm with you on this one for sure. Wondering - Ah, heck, who knows why? I'm kind of "down" with the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." -
cactus-sue
July 22, 2010Not sure I'm gonna like this, but I guess we will have to wait and see. -
Wondering
July 22, 2010Why did they change the points system?
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July 27, 2010