PUEBLO, Colo. – Kaique Pacheco’s blood pressure could have begun to rise a week ago when 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis rode Smooth Operator for a sensational 93.75 points in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The man who rallied two seasons ago to snatch the world title from Pacheco was gaining steam and momentum ahead of the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational in Fairfax, Virginia.
Pacheco, though, while impressed by Davis’ ride, was not fazed one bit.
“No I don’t care about how they ride,” Pacheco said about the other riders in the world title race before the start of Round 2 on Sunday. “I just focus on my percentage and riding my bulls. That is what I look for. It doesn’t really matter who I am riding against because he has to do good on his bull and I have to do good on mine. If there is somebody else out there, it is going to be the same. I just focus on getting the job done and getting my bulls rode.
“Whatever happens will be a consequence of my work.”
His response in the arena said more so than his words on Sunday afternoon.
The 24-year-old did what he does best – churning out 8 seconds rides at an impressive clip – and went a flawless 3-for-3 to win his fourth premier series event of the season this past weekend at EagleBank Arena.
The victory gives Pacheco a 1,211.67-point lead on No. 2 Claudio Montanha Jr. with four regular-season events and the 2018 PBR World Finals remaining.
It is the largest second-half lead of Pacheco’s career and the largest by any rider at this point in the season since the PBR switched to its current points system in 2015.
“It is a great feeling going into the last few events with this lead,” Pacheco said with the help of Paulo Crimber translating. “I thank God that I completed my job and rode all of my bulls this weekend.”
Pacheco leads the PBR with 31 qualified rides in 67 outs in 22 premier series events.
“He is a machine,” 2009 Ring of Honor inductee J.W. Hart said in Atlantic City. “He isn’t looking. He has blinders on. I don’t know if pressure gets to him or not. He is going to do his thing. I don’t think he has pressure.”
Pacheco’s victory in Fairfax came following his 86.75 points on Springer Mountain in the Championship Round.
The world No. 1 had some luck on his side too as the final four riders in the championship round – Jose Vitor Leme, Keyshawn Whitehorse, Davis and Derek Kolbaba – all bucked off.
“He looked great doing it,” two-time World Champion Justin McBride said on CBS Sports Network. “What I liked about it was it was either direction. It didn’t matter. Championship round rolls around and he gets in there, he doesn’t have the first pick or the best pick, but he picks a bull he is very confident in and gets a score. Put the pressure on everybody else and they couldn’t overtake him.”
The buckoffs by Leme and Davis were extra important for the title race.
Instead of winning the event and gaining ground on Pacheco, both riders now sit further back.
Leme, the No. 3 rider in the world standings, dropped to 1,568.34 points behind, and No. 5 Davis sits 1,772.5 points back.
Historically, any rider within 2,000 points of the world lead has a good shot at the World Championship; one rider can earn a maximum of 3,300 points at the World Finals.
Right now only seven riders are within that striking distance of Pacheco – No. 2 Montanha (-1,211.67), No. 3 Leme (-1,568.34), No. 4 Ramon de Lima (-1,717.5), No. 5 Davis (-1,772.5), No. 6 Luciano de Castro (-1,787.5), No. 7 Cody Nance (-1,809.17) and No. 8 Cody Teel (-2,000.84).
There are still 2,950 regular-season world points available for one rider.
In other words, the World Championship race is still very much undecided.
Pacheco is just making it more difficult for his challengers.
“All the chasers better get it together because Pacheco is not waiting around for these guys to figure it out,” McBride said. “They better start making the 8 seconds because Pacheco is.”
This may be his largest lead at this point in the season, but Pacheco has been in the conversation for a World Championship ever since he was a rookie in 2015.
That year, two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney won his second gold buckle by taking a 1,315-point lead into the 2015 PBR World Finals. Mauney would clinch the championship following Round 3.
Has Pacheco thought about finishing off this season like Mauney did against him?
Mauney used three second-half victories, including the regular-season finale in Tucson, Arizona, and two runner-up finishes to bring his 1,000-plus lead over Pacheco into the World Finals.
“I always look at J.B. as one of the greatest bull riders, in my opinion,” Pacheco said. “I try to watch a lot of his videos and pick up some stuff from him. When you get to compete against guys like those, J.B. and Cooper, they always make you improve and have a good attitude.
“I am happy with where I am.”
Pacheco, though, showed once again that he does not want to leave the door open for any of his opponents to get within breathing distance of him.
The Itatiba, Brazil, bull rider is starting to line up some nails in the World Championship coffin.
A few more events like this past weekend, and he may be able to pull out his hammer too.
“I just try to go week by week and just do a good job and get my bulls rode,” Pacheco said. “That is what I am thinking.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko