PUEBLO, Colo. - During the 20 events in the first half of the 2018 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) expansion series, emerging bull-riding talent alongside superstars of the sport will compete in 15 states across the country and visit six new cities. Fans attending the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour (RVT) events will be treated to electrifying, dirt-flinging action as the athletes take on some of the rankest bulls in an attempt to climb the ranks and qualify for the 2018 PBR World Championship.

The 2018 tour opens in Oakland, California’s Oracle Arena in early January where fans can cheer on RVT standout talent like Skeeter Kingsolver, Alex Marcilio, Cody Campbell and many more. The tour will visit 32 markets throughout the season, returning to fan-favorite cities like Bangor, Grand Rapids and Youngstown, which saw sold out crowds in 2016 and 2017. New stops to the first half of the tour include North Charleston, Lexington, Greenville, Knoxville, Casper and Springfield.

The fastest-growing tour within the PBR is an integral part of the sport in allowing new talent to gain experience on world-class bulls, building their fan base at major venues and events. Some of the top riders in the PBR’s premier series who earned their stripes within the RVT include 2017 PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood, 21 year-old Derek Kolbaba, 2017 Last Cowboy Standing Kaique Pacheco, 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2017 PBR World Finals Champion Jose Vitor Leme and many more.

All riders on the expansion series are on a mission to ride in the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas which takes place every November. The 2018 RVT season will culminate with the Real Time Pain Relief Finals at South Point Arena in Las Vegas Nov. 3-4, where the winner, the second and third place finishers, the 2018 RVT Champion, and the top International qualifier will each compete at the World Finals Nov. 7-11 at T-Mobile Arena.