It was going to take an outstanding effort for any bull to score higher than Bushwacker and win 2010 World Champion Bull.

Bones delivered.

In a matchup of 2008 World Champions, Bones grounded Guilherme Marchi in 2 seconds in the Built Ford Tough World Finals Championship Round Sunday. He was awarded 47.25 bull points to give him a two-out total of 92.5 points.

“Bones had to have a great rider on him to really showcase his stuff,” PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert said. “Guilherme was planning on riding him, and Bones came up with the greatest effort we’ve seen by a bull this week.”

Bushwacker (Moreno, Oliveira), who won the ABBI World Finals Classic Championship on Saturday, was attempting to become the first bull to win that crown and World Champion Bull in the same year. Instead, he finished tied for second (91.5) with Major Payne (Robinson, Bar None, Segs, Skyhawk Rugs & Red Knection).

Major Payne earned 46 points when he became the first bull to buck off 2010 PBR World Champion and Finals event winner Renato Nunes in Las Vegas. His jump and turn to the right on the season’s final ride felled the Brazilian champion in 1.7 seconds.

Bones and Bushwacker entered the last round of the competition tied with 45.25 points. Major Payne led with 45.5 points. Bushwacker’s out came Saturday night.

Bones improved to 4-0 against Marchi when he followed his first jump out of the gate with a devastating jump and drop while turning left.

“When he starts his jump, he starts off his back feet and his front feet get four or five feet off the ground,” Lambert said. “And then when he kicks straight up, with his front feet so high off the ground, it drives his front end down and that makes him incredibly strong. He’s turning back as he does it, so that’s everything you could ask a bucking bull to do.”

Bones’ owner, Tom Teague of Winston-Salem, N.C., enjoyed his 7-year-old bull’s performance from his front-row seat at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I knew he should really get a good score but I didn’t know if it was going to be good enough to beat Bushwacker,” Teague said. “Bushwacker is a great bull and I’d love to own him. I wish I owned him but Bones did his number. I can’t ask him to do anymore and I may end up retiring him after this, I don’t know.

“He’s been two-time World Champion and he’s a great animal.”

Bones also won his second Mikel Moreno Bull of the World Finals award for accumulating the most bull points in Las Vegas. His first came in 2008, the same year he won his first world crown.

Teague wins $20,000 from the PBR and a trailer from Big Tex for Bones’ performance. He credits Bones’ caretakers for his animal’s success.

“The guys did a magnificent job in handling him, Boyce Knox and Phil Trivette,” Teague said. “So what can I say, the guys back in North Carolina did a great job getting him into condition. Lee Holt and my brother, Randy Teague, they worked with him. It takes a team to do it. I did the least of anybody. All I did was put the money up and raise him. He’s homegrown.”

Bones became the first animal to be PBR’s top bull in non-consecutive seasons and the first to win World Champion Bull twice in the competitive format adopted at the Finals in 2007.

“I thought he was outstanding today,” said 2010 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year Jeff Robinson. “I think it’s best trip I’ve seen him have since he won [World Champion Bull in 2008].”

— by Chris McManes