LAS VEGAS - Silvano Alves added an exclamation point to his World Championship season with a 92.25-point ride on Yellow Jacket Jr. on Sunday.

Nine-time World Champion Ty Murray said it was stark reminder that "Alves was the very best rider" of the year.

"He very quietly does his job," said Murray in his weekly podcast, noting that Alves has just three rides of 90 points or more since coming to the Built Ford Tough Series in April of 2010.

However, he added, "We've seen him ride the rankest of the rank bulls, so it's not like he's got some strategy where he won a World Championship just by getting on easy bulls. This guy had the highest riding percentage, we've seen him ride the rank bulls, and we've seen him ride some of the rank bulls easily."

'We've seen him ride the rankest of the rank bulls, so it's not like he's got some strategy where he won a World Championship just by getting on easy bulls.'

Murray explained that at times, Alves almost makes it look too easy.

He contrasted Alves' style to that of Rubens Barbosa. The 2011 PBR Rookie of the Year has a dramatic approach with big countermoves that makes an impression.

"It makes for a memorable ride," he said, "where Silvano doesn't have that real flamboyant style. He just sits up there and does things right."

Alves simply goes about his job of riding bulls - 11 more than anyone else this year - and earning a living to support his family. In 18 months, he's earned nearly $2 million.

Silvano Alves ends his 2011 season with 92.25 points on Yellow Jacket Jr. Sunday. (Tom Donoghue)

"He tries to do the best he can every single time," Murray said, "and a lot of people have a lot of different things to say about it, but there's no denying he rode better than everybody this year, he had the highest riding percentage, and he just kept knocking them down all year long.

"He's as steady as they come, and he saw it all the way through the World Finals."

Alves covered five of six bulls in Las Vegas and finished third in the average.

Murray said he was happy for both Alves and Robson Palermo, who won the Finals average for the second time in four years, and added that the Built Ford Tough Championship Round was inspiring.

Four of the last seven riders among the Top 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center covered their bulls, and four times they brought the crowd its feet. Three of those rides were lead-changing.

'There's no denying he rode better than everybody this year, he had the highest riding percentage, and he just kept knocking them down all year long. He's as steady as they come.'

Alves took the lead with his effort.

It was short-lived, though, when Caleb Sanderson capped the best week of his career with a 92.5-point ride on RMEF Gunpowder & Lead. Two outs later, Palermo clinched the event win with a 93.25-point score on King of Hearts.

Palermo, who has been competing with a completely torn left rotator cuff, will undergo surgery on Wednesday in Dallas.

"It makes you wonder if he still ought to prolong it when he comes in and wins the toughest bull riding in the world," Murray said. "I think it is something he has to get fixed. It's a bummer."

Over the past few years, Murray has explained that if Palermo was 100-percent healthy, he would win a world title.

In his podcast, Murray also talked about World Champion Bull Bushwacker, and looked ahead to the 2012 BFTS.

While it will be tough for Alves to repeat - in 18 years there has never been a back-to-back World Champion in the PBR - there is no denying that as a group, the Brazilian riders are determined to compete relentlessly, week-in and week-out.

Murray's podcast can be heard here.