NEW YORK CITY – Following Round 1 of the Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden, presented by Ariat, Eduardo Aparecido was one of the most popular guys in the locker room.
With his 16-month-old son, John Lucas, in his arms, Aparecido was the center of activity as nearly every Brazilian bull rider stopped by to coo, make funny faces and pinch John Lucas’s cheeks.
Aparecido himself also got some of the attention, receiving slaps on the back and words of congratulations for his night of work.
The bull rider dubbed Fast Eddy got out to a fast start in the new year, riding Midnight Rock for 89.5 points and winning the first round of the 2020 Unleash The Beast season.
For his efforts, he earned 30 world points and now sits at No. 8 in the early world standings, trailing No. 1s Lachlan Richardson and Derek Kolbaba by 23 points.
“It just came really good this year,” Aparecido said with the help of Paulo Crimber translating. “I focused a little more. I prepared myself a little more. I prepared myself more mentally and physically to be ready for the first event of the year. I think it’s going to be great. I thank God to be healthy and have a great year again.”
In 2019, the Gouvelandia, Brazil native felt himself lagging behind his peers, and not staying in shape showed in his results on the dirt.
Since finishing No. 51 in the world standings in 2012, when he made his U.S. debut and competed in one premier series event, Aparecido had never finished worse than No. 11 in the world. But in 2019, he finished No. 23, plagued by inconsistency.
Perhaps nowhere was that more evident than the 2019 PBR World Finals, where he went just 2-for-6, but those two rides were massive: 91.25 points on Chiseled to win Round 1, and 90.5 points on Trail of Tears to finish second in Round 3.
“I didn’t have a really have a great Finals, but the great bulls I got, I got to ride them, and that helped my confidence to kind of step up and just kind of carry on and recuperate my season,” Aparecido said. “That was kind of what motivated me to start doing better, exercising and just kind of dedicating myself to be in better shape, physically and mentally, to start the season.”
Since departing Las Vegas, Aparecido has been a man on a mission. He’s been running 30-40 minutes every day and playing soccer to try and lose weight and be in the best shape possible to start the season.
Aparecido also competed in PBR Australia events during the offseason, going a combined 5-for-10 in three events.
He hadn’t planned on going home to Brazil, but when his father needed surgery, that’s exactly what he did. Despite not competing as much as he’d initially hoped to, he continued getting on practice bulls to keep up his training.
“Last year I felt like I got a little lazy on the training, on the dedication and all that,” Aparecido said. “That’s the reason I wanted to go to Australia, to start riding, just focus and get tuned up for the beginning of the season.”
Aparecido just edged out Joao Ricardo Vieira (89.25 points on Western Skies) for the round win. In his return to the Unleash The Beast after an injury-plagued 2019 season, 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco placed third with 88.25 points on Viper, tying with 2019 World Champion Jess Lockwood, who rode Birthday Cake for the same score. Kolbaba’s 88 points on Harold’s Genuine Risk rounded out the Top 5.
Aparecido has drawn Shots Fired (0-0, all levels) for Round 2. Fans can watch all the action exclusively on RidePass at 6:45 p.m. ET.
The 29-year-old’s offseason plans and preparation all came to fruition Friday night, and it had even more significance with his three children on hand to see it.
“It means a lot to have a good performance, especially when you’re family’s around, because that’s who we’re riding for, our families,” Aparecido said. “And we try to set a good example for our kids, and having him here and my two daughters, it’s just amazing.”
Regardless of circumstances, Aparecido is thrilled to be the first round winner of 2020.
With any luck, it won’t be his last.
“It means a lot,” Aparecido said. “I wish to win a lot more than one through the season, and I hope it’s going to be a blessed season.”