During the first round of competition, Marchi scored 86 points aboard #10 Bucking Bulls’ Bad Brad on Friday night. In the second round of action, he topped Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Spiderman for 84.75 points. Marchi’s consistency paid off when he scored 88.25 points aboard D&H Cattle Co.’s Bad Yeller during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. As the only man to ride all three bulls and a total score of 259 points, he easily claimed the event championship and the $27,320 in prize money.

“I’ve tried and tried in the past to win the PBR World Championship,” said Marchi. “This year I’ve trained a little harder and had a lot of support from my friends and family. I hope that it’s finally my time.”

The Des Moines Classic event win marks the third win of the season for Marchi and his ninth career victory. The sensational bull rider from Brazil has maintained an exceptional 80.36% riding percentage through 19 BFTS events this season. Through the first half of the season, Marchi has dominated the chase for the 2008 PBR World Championship, extending his lead to more than 3,000 points.

Texas cowboy, Zack Brown (Santa Fe) continued to move toward the top of the standings by claiming second place overall in the event with 179 points. In the first round, Brown received 88.25 points aboard Danny Lemmons’ Splat Kat. In the second round, he was bucked off of Page & Teague Bucking Bulls’ Page W4L but his single score was enough to qualify him for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. Brown claimed the win during the final round of action when he scored 90.75 points aboard Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen’s Sir Patrick. Brown earned $16,718 for his performance.

Event alternate, Harve Stewart (Stephenville, Texas) did his best to re-claim his spot among the elite bull riders when he took third place in the overall event standings. Although he was bucked off of Stace Smith’s Wild Berry in round one, he dominated Silverado Rodeo Company’s Malibu in round two and received 88 points. In the Built Ford Tough Championship Round, Stewart scored 90.5 points aboard Frontier/Teague/Ron White’s Nervous Waters. Stewart added $11,334 in PBR bucks to his pocket book.

Fourth place was claimed by three-time PBR World Champion, Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil) with a total score of 177.5 points. Earlier this season Moraes announced that 2008 would be his farewell tour and he’s making the most of it with five top five finishes thus far in the year. Clayton Foltyn (El Campo, Texas) rounded out the top five with 177 points.

The PBR Team Challenge was once again a thrilling race in Des Moines. Twenty-two teams have been formed, each providing $50,000 for the opportunity to win their share of the $1.1 million total competition purse through the 2008 season. The teams known as D&H/Enlow/Gilbert and Ron White’s Comedy Tour tied for the win with 222.5 points and they each took home $15,000 in prize money.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the top 45 bull riders in the world to San Antonio, Texas for the Ford Best in Texas Shootout on May 17. The VERSUS network airs PBR events every Saturday and Sunday evening. Be sure to check www.pbrnow.com for upcoming cities, ticket information, and complete broadcast times.

INJURY REPORT

Kasey Hayes (Liberal, Kan.) fractured his C-6 vertebrae after he was thrown off his first round bull. He will undergo surgery and is out for an undetermined amount of time.

Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) sustained a concussion when he was thrown off his short round bull. He was transported to the hospital and is under observation for a neck injury.

Bryan Richardson (Dallas, TX) sprained his left shoulder. He is probable for San Antonio.

Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, NM) bruised his hip after he was thrown from his round one bull. He is probable for San Antonio.

BEHIND THE CHUTES

Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s “Ride with the Best” Bonus:
As the winner of round two at the Cooper Tires Invitational, Mike White (De Kalb, Texas) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of Des Moines Classic. He did not make the required eight second whistle aboard Three Alarm, thus the $5,000 bonus was awarded to Frontier Rodeo Company.

The Des Moines Classic round one winner, Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during the second round of competition in Des Moines. Snyder did not make the eight second whistle on the bull, Spit Fire, and consequently, C&G Rodeo Livestock, LLC was awarded the $5,000 bonus. As the winner of round two, L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) will be eligible for the bonus May 17 in San Antonio, Texas.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and ultimately did not win the Des Moines Classic event title. As the $10,000 bonus was not claimed, it will increase to $15,000 at the Ford Best in Texas Shootout in San Antonio, Texas on May 17. The bonus grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed. Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.

Ford Super Duty Challenge:
As the Des Moines Classic event winner, Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) has qualified for a chance to compete at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, against all other 2008 Built Ford Tough Series event winners, for $50,000 toward the purchase of a 2009 Ford Super Duty Truck. The Ford Super Duty Challenge contestant who finishes the highest in the event aggregate during the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will win the Ford Super Duty Challenge.

Salem NationaLease Bull of the Event:
Jacob’s Pet owned by D&H Cattle Co./Runyan earned Bull of the Event honors with a score of 46.50 points in Des Moines. This honor is acknowledged by an award of $1,250 going to the top bull of each event as determined by the PBR judges’ bull score.

Cabela’s World’s Foremost Ride:
L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.) recorded the highest marked ride of the event when he scored 92 points on Chad Berger/Denny Hawks’ Scaredy Cat, during the second round of the Des Moines Classic. Consequently, he earned a $1,000 bonus.

The rider who achieves the highest score at each BFTS regular season event, excluding the PBR World Finals receives a bonus of $1,000 for the accomplishment. The PBR athlete who achieves the highest marked qualifying ride during the entire 2008 BFTS regular season, excluding the PBR World Finals event will receive $25,000, while second and third place finishers will be awarded $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. The bull rider who achieves the highest marked ride through the course of the entire 2008 PBR BFTS World Finals will earn an additional $10,000.

DES MOINES CLASSIC RESULTS

ROUND ONE: 1) Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.) 90.75 points on Frontier Rodeo Company’s Flash, $2,730; 2) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil) 90.25 points on Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Team Equine’s Evil Forces, $1,950; 3) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 88.75 points on Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen’s Montego Bay, $1,170; 4) Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) 88.5 points on Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Texas, $780.

ROUND TWO: 1) L.J. Jenkins (Texico, NM) 92 points on Chad Berger/Denny Hawks’ Scaredy Cat, $2,730; 2) Dustin Elliott (North Platte, NE) 91.75 points on Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Walk the Line, $1,950; 3/4) Brian Canter (Randleman, NC) Frontier Rodeo Company’s Flash, $975; 3/4) Mike White (De Kalb, TX) 89.75 points on Danny Lemmons’ Splat Kat, $975.

BUILT FORD TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND: 1) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, TX) 90.75 points on Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen’s Sir Patrick, $2,730; 2) Harve Stewart (Stephenville, TX) 90.5 points on Frontier/Teague/Ron White’s Nervous Waters, $1,950; 3) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 88.25 points on D&H Cattle Co.’s Bad Yeller, $1,170.

OVERALL EVENT STANDINGS: 1) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 259 points, $27,320; 2) Zack Brown (Santa Fe, TX) 179 points, $16,718; 3) Harve Stewart (Stephenville, TX) 178.5 points, $11,334; 4) Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil) 177.5 points, $7,350; 5) Clayton Foltyn (El Campo, TX) 177 points, $5,156; 6) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 176.75 points, $3,450.

BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD STANDINGS: (The PBR World Champion is based on total Built Ford Tough Series points earned throughout the season.)

1) Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) 8729 points, $191,812; 2) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 5882.25 points, $112,024; 3) Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO) 5472.75 points, $75,549; 4) J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, NC) 5224 points, $103,531; 5) L.J. Jenkins (Texico, NM) 5081.25 points, $121,006; 6) Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, NM) 4672 points, $226,817; 7) Mike Lee (Decatur, TX) 4442.5 points, $68,456; 8) Ross Coleman (Molalla, Ore.) 4362 points, $46,539; 9) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 4237 points, $175,291; 10) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 4176 points, $60,426.

About the PBR:

More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400ours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air. In addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.