NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Continuing his season for the ages in Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday evening, reigning PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) further etched his name in the league record books inside Bridgestone Arena. Delivering his 17th 90-point ride of 2021 to win Round 1 of the elite Unleash The Beast’s Ariat Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires, Leme set a new league record for most 90-point rides registered by a rider in one season.
As one of the last riders to erupt from the chutes in the opening round of the Music City event, Leme was poised as he climbed aboard Show Me Homie (K-C Bucking Bulls/JoZ Bucking Bulls). With the raucous, near-capacity crowd feverishly applauding Leme, he matched the bull jump-for-jump, making the 8-second whistle and earning his historic 90.75-point score.
“All these numbers make my race this year so special,” Leme said from the dirt. “I’m very happy to put my name on these records. I thank God to give me the opportunity to get on these bulls and do what I love to do, and I thank all the fans for watching.”
The 90-point ride allowed Leme to surpass previous record-holder Cody Hart (Gainesville, Texas), who logged 16 90-point rides en route to the 1999 PBR World Championship. In late July, Leme tied Hart for ownership of the record in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he set a new PBR record for high-marked ride, covering Woopaa (Barker Bulls/Hookin’ W Ranch) for 97.75 points.
Leme’s round victory also allowed him to inch one step closer to breaking yet another league record. Now with 14 round wins to date in 2021, Leme is within striking distance of current record-holder J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina), who won a league-best 19 rounds in 2013. Leme has won at least one round in 10 of the 15 elite tour events at which he has competed in 2021.
Earning 29 world points, Leme extended his lead atop the world standings. He now leads No. 2 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) by 435.5 points. Should Leme repeat as the World Champion in 2021, he would become just the second rider ever to accomplish the feat. Three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) earned his first two titles consecutively in 2011 and 2012.
Tying with Rookie of the Year contender Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas) for second place in Round 1, Pacheco prevented Leme from gaining even further ground in the race for the coveted gold buckle.
Pacheco, the 2018 PBR World Champion, rode Game Day (Next Level Bucking Bulls) for 87.75 points, a score duplicated by Petri atop Slingin Tears (Blake Sharp/Henry Wilson/Caveman Bucking Bulls).
Each rider earned 17.5 world points for their efforts.
While Pacheco remained No. 2 in the world, Petri rose two positions, climbing from No. 18 to No. 16. Petri trails No. 1 Leme by 1,273.42 points.
Fourth was Mauricio Moreira (Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil), who rode Mr. Simmons (K-C Bucking Bulls/Daniels Cattle Co.) for 87.5 points.
Moreira netted 16 world points and remains No. 14 in the world.
Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil) and Thiago Salgado (Navirai, Brazil) rounded out the Top 5, tying for fifth compliments of matching 87.25-point rides.
They covered Poncho Villa (K-C Bucking Bulls/Bull Creek Bucking Bulls) and Dennis The Menace (Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger), respectively, to earn 14.5 world points.
PBR Unleash The Beast action from Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Arena will conclude on Sunday, August 22, starting at 1:45 p.m. CDT, with Round 2 and the championship round.
PBR RidePass on PlutoTV will offer re-airs and on-demand replays of every PBR Unleash The Beast event. PBR RidePass is available on desktops, laptops and mobile devices via www.pluto.tv. Tune to channel 720 for the latest programming schedule.
PBR Unleash The Beast
PBR Ariat Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, Tennessee
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 90.75-0-0-90.75-29 Points.
2. Kaique Pacheco, 87.75-0-0-87.75-17.5 Points.
(tie). Jesse Petri, 87.75-0-0-87.75-17.5 Points.
4. Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 87.5-0-0-87.50-16 Points.
5. Alex Cerqueira, 87.25-0-0-87.25-14.5 Points.
(tie). Thiago Salgado, 87.25-0-0-87.25-14.5 Points.
7. Junior Patrik Souza, 86.75-0-0-86.75-13 Points.
8. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 86.5-0-0-86.50-12 Points.
9. Lucas Divino, 85-0-0-85.00-11 Points.
10. Derek Kolbaba, 81-0-0-81.00-2 Points.
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
João Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Dougherty, 0-0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Kasel, 0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0.00
João Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0.00
Austin Richardson, 0-0-0-0.00
Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0.00
Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0-0.00
Conner Halverson, 0-0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00