LAS VEGAS – 2020 World Champion Jose Vitor Leme was sitting inside the locker room at the MGM Grand Garden Arena alongside Dener Barbosa when the TV behind him began to play J.B. Mauney’s iconic 95.25-point ride aboard Bushwacker from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2013.
Leme stopped preparing his riding gear for the upcoming PBR Las Vegas Invitational and watched in awe as Mauney ended the three-time World Champion Bull’s PBR record buckoff streak of 42 in a row.
“That was incredible,” Leme said of the ride he has now seen many, many times. “Bushwacker is one of the greatest bulls of all time, and J.B. is one of the greatest riders of all time, and that was special for the sport and the PBR. That is one of the best rides I have ever seen in my life.”
Leme had his own challenge on Friday night during Round 1 of the PBR Las Vegas Invitational against Cha Ching.
While, of course, Cha Ching is not Bushwacker, the Viducic Bucking Bull had yet to be conquered by any rider on the premier series (16 outs) and at any level of competition (27 outs).
Leave it to Leme to change that.
The 24-year-old ended Cha Ching’s buckoff streak by riding him for 86.5 points to finish Round 1 in fifth place.
“I am happy about that because he was in a fight with me today, and I won,” Leme said. “I am very happy because he is not an easy bull. He is a hard one. He is one we don’t want to pick or draw, and I draw him today, and I put all of my focus on that ride and to finish. I thank God I was able to finish that ride.
“Bulls like that motivate me to ride because if you ride them, you will be remembered. That is what I want. I want to be remembered for all of my rides.”
Two-time World Champion Justin McBride told Craig Hummer during the CBS Sports Network broadcast the ride was a chess match between the two athletes.
“Look, that is not even close to the biggest score we have seen out of Leme this season, but it is such a good ride,” McBride said. “All of the movement and all the stuff Shorty (Gorham) was talking about, Cha Ching had it. This is a smart veteran bull that knows how to get guys on the ground. Watch how strong Jose gets in his back. That is a fantastic job of getting by a really smart bull that has had a knack of finding ways to get guys on the ground.”
Leme picked up 15 points toward the world standings to climb to within one point of world leader Kaique Pacheco, who was bucked off by Tarabull in 3.15 seconds.
In fact, Leme was the only rider in the Top 4 of the world standings to record a qualified ride as No. 4 Joao Ricardo Vieira (2.35 seconds vs. Hell Storm) and No. 3 Cooper Davis (4.15 seconds vs. @PBR on TikTok) were also dusted in Round 1.
Leme will look to take over the world No. 1 ranking Saturday night during the conclusion of the PBR Las Vegas Invitational when he takes on Outlaw (10-7 UTB). Leme is 1-1 against Outlaw, including a 90.25-point ride during his victory at the WCRA Royal City Roundup in Kansas City, Missouri.
Fans can watch the event's conclusion live on CBS Sports Network and RidePass at 9 p.m. ET.
Leme has had a ton of success in Las Vegas already in his five-year career, and he has victories in three different Vegas venues.
Most famously, Leme won the 2017 PBR World Finals by going a perfect 6-for-6 to win the 2017 World Finals event title just 10 days after stepping foot in the United States for the first time at the Velocity Tour Finals.
The next season, Leme won the 2018 WCRA Rodeo Showdown at Helldorado Days inside the Thomas & Mack Center.
Leme then won the 2019 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals the following year.
The 2017 PBR Rookie of the Year has been simply dominant in Las Vegas, going 35-for-49 (71.43%) with seven 90-point rides at all levels of competition.
Now Leme is looking to notch another Vegas victory on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which hosted the first five PBR World Finals (1994-1998).
“I never ride in this arena, and it is my first time here,” Leme concluded. “It is a special arena. I hope I can continue my good luck here in Las Vegas. I have rode good at T-Mobile, the South Point and the Thomas & Mack Center. I am hopeful to do that again here.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media