Watch the conclusion of all the action in Bismarck Saturday night on RidePass
BISMARCK, N.D. – Derek Kolbaba is well aware of how much time is left between now and the 2019 PBR World Finals on Nov. 6-10 in Las Vegas.
With two PBR Majors left on the Unleash The Beast calendar, including Last Cowboy Standing at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 22-23, there are plenty of opportunities for the No. 8 bull rider in the world to make up the 1,850 points separating him and world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme.
Kolbaba took a small chunk out of Leme’s lead Friday night during the 19th annual Dakota Community Bank & Trust Touring Pro Division event in Bismarck, North Dakota, by winning Round 1 with 90 points on Tested Crazy.
“I knew he was going to be good,” Kolbaba said. “I just had to get a little fire under our ass and ride him.”
Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger pinned Kolbaba vs. Tested Crazy as a matchup to watch heading into the event after seeing Tested Crazy best world No. 3 Chase Outlaw in 4.94 seconds a week ago in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Kolbaba, though, channeled his 2018 PBR World Finals form for his first 90-point ride at any level of competition since he rode Cochise for 91.25 points on the final day of the 2018 season in Las Vegas.
He was sensational in Las Vegas, posting three 90-point rides on his way to a third-place finish.
“I mean, I think that’s kind of one thing on them big bad ones,” Kolbaba said. “They’ll get you if you start over-thinking and thinking you’ve got to do more than you actually have to do. You let your body do what you already trained it to do and kind of take that same intensity, and the sky’s the limit.”
Kolbaba picked up 50 points toward the world standings Friday night to cut into Leme’s lead.
Pennywise bucked off Leme in 5.62 seconds during the world leader’s return to action following a minor groin injury at the Green Bay Invitational two weeks ago.
Kolbaba was unable to ride Smooth Wreck in Berger’s $125,000 Team Challenge, presented by Marquis Metal Works, as Smooth Wreck took him down in 7.96 seconds.
Smooth Wreck was marked 45.75 points, but those points will not count toward the 2019 YETI World Champion Bull race seeing as the team challenge is an exhibition.
“He rode like a World Champion tonight,” Berger said. “He is 90 in the long round and he was fixing to be 94 to 95. He was one jump away from that basically. I think he is back feeling it and looks good.”
Kolbaba has drawn Mac the Knife (7-9, all levels) for Round 2.
Round 2 continues Saturday night at the Bismarck Event Center. Fans can watch the event exclusively on RidePass beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
2017 World Champion Jess Lockwood and 2018 Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse were right on Kolbaba’s heels in Round 1.
“Yeah, that’s what I like to see!” Lockwood said of his teammate’s effort. “That bull bucked, and I knew if Derek could start him and finish him, really.”
Lockwood continued his impressive return from a broken collarbone by riding Acting Crazy for 89 points in Round 1, while Whitehorse picked up 89 aboard Shelley’s Gangster.
Acting Crazy had previously bucked Lockwood off in 2.52 seconds and 1.52 seconds at the 2016 PBR World Finals and 2018 PBR World Finals.
Lockwood got some advice about Acting Crazy from his friend Austin Patterson heading into Bismarck.
“You know, I’ve been on that bull twice and both times I haven’t made it, I literally don’t think I’ve made it two seconds both times,” Lockwood said. “Austin Patterson, a buddy of mine from Texas, lives right, shoot, five miles from Hailey (Kinsel) and I down in Texas. He said, ‘Man, if you ever get him again, scoot your rope back to the middle of his back.’ Which isn’t the right way to do things, but whatever works, works.
“Do what works for you, not what works for others, is the way I see it. Well, his shoulders are so big, when you set it right, he pushes back and he hits your legs because his shoulders are so big. I did it like that, and they both said, him and (Jesse) Petri, that if you do that, then he rides like a dream, and he did. He felt so good.”
Lockwood heads into Round 2 on Saturday night 596.66 points behind Leme in the world standings.
The 21-year-old has now earned 762.5 world points in seven consecutive events.
Lockwood has drawn Jungle Can Do for Round 2.
Rounding out the Top 5 in Round 1 was Cooper Davis (88 points on Hitman) and Chase Outlaw (87 points on Jungle Can Do).
There were 10 total rides in Round 1.
Kolbaba said he is thriving off Lockwood’s success in 2019 and is motivated to be right up there with him fighting for a world title.
“We’re boys, ever since I’ve ever met him,” Kolbaba said. “That was when he was 16 years old and I was 17. He might’ve been 15 at the time, I don’t know. But we’re good buddies and when you talk about kind of feeding off of each other, he does really well, and he’s got a gold buckle.
“That makes me want to do well and go get that gold buckle too.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko