PUEBLO, Colo. – 2018 was a year of full of heartbreaking, heartwarming and historic news in the PBR and its tight-knit community.

Everything from Kaique Pacheco’s determined march to a World Championship despite torn ligaments in his knee to the sudden passing of star athletes was chronicled over the course of the year on PBR.com.

As we close the book on 2018 and prepare to start writing the story of 2019, PBR.com has gathered the Top-8 most-read articles of 2018 in preparation for the start of the 2019 Unleash The Beast with the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden, presented by Ariat, in New York City on Jan. 4.

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PACHECO ACHIEVES CHILDHOOD DREAM AND WINS EMOTIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Kaique Pacheco faced the biggest obstacle of his career when he tore his left MCL/PCL just three days before the 2018 PBR World Finals. Regardless, Pacheco committed himself to physical therapy and would not waver in his march to a World Championship.

REMEMBERING GILIARD ANTONIO (1993-2018)

The PBR community was shocked and saddened by the passing of 24-year-old Giliard Antonio in May. Many believed that Antonio had the talent to one day compete in the United States at the PBR’s premier level.

PEARL HARBOR PASSES AWAY AMIDST PURSUIT OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The passing of World Champion Bull contender Pearl Harbor stunned the PBR and Western Sports community in April. There is no question that Pearl Harbor will go down as one of the greatest bovine athletes in PBR history, and that he left a lasting impression on everyone involved in the sport.

Stock Contractor Chad Berger would later win a record-setting eighth Stock Contractor of the Year award and honor Pearl Harbor at the Heroes & Legends ceremony in Las Vegas.

RELATED: Looking back at Big Dutch’s career

J.B. MAUNEY BREAKS HIS BACK ATTEMPTING TO RIDE PEARL HARBOR

Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney made it clear in April that he would not be retiring after breaking his back attempting to ride Pearl Harbor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

RELATED: Mauney: ‘You have to be the cockiest son of a gun’

J.B. MAUNEY STATES ASPIRATIONS TO RIDE AT 2019 WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

Mauney made headlines in November when he revealed that he may embrace a rodeo run in 2019 and push for a NFR qualification alongside a PBR World Finals qualification.

Meanwhile, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves reflected on his first season getting his feet wet on the rodeo trail.

J.B. MAUNEY IS A STUDENT OF LANE FROST’S GAME

On the 29^th anniversary of Lane Frost’s tragic death, two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney talked about how Frost influenced his riding style and career.

GUILHERME MARCHI ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi announced in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this past August that he would be retiring at the end of the season following his 83-point ride in Little Red Jacket.

Marchi would go on to finish the season 23^rd in the world standings.

RELATED: Robson Palermo announces his retirement

LOCKWOOD WINS CHAD BERGER’S MATCH OF CHAMPIONS AND $75,000

2017 World Champion Jess Lockwood barely beat out 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis for the event title at Chad Berger’s historic $100,000 Match of Champions, which featured 15 champion bull riders from the PBR, PRCA, INFR and collegiate ranks.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko