PUEBLO, Colo. – Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood gave himself an early birthday present this week by riding his first practice bull since undergoing reconstructive pelvic surgery this past spring.
Lockwood shared the video on his social media accounts on Tuesday morning, which was his 24th birthday.
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Lockwood had considered competing at the Minot Y's Men PBR Touring Pro Division event this weekend in Minot, North Dakota, and is tentatively entered the event.
However, Lockwood told PBR.com on Wednesday afternoon he was "probably not" going to ride in Minot after feeling some soreness in his groin after getting on an additional practice bull on Tuesday night.
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Lockwood is hopeful he will be ready to return to Unleash The Beast competition on Oct. 9 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
RELATED: Lockwood hopeful to return soon, but will not rush back until he is ready
The youngest two-time World Champion in PBR history has fallen to No. 46 in the world standings since last competing on May 15 in Billings, Montana. Lockwood bucked off 10 bulls in a row and was only 3-for-19 this season before shutting things down to fix his pelvis injury, which dates back to when he sustained his career-threatening torn left hamstring in March 2020.
I’m Legit Too ripped Lockwood’s hamstring in a fluke deal when his spur got caught up in his bull rope in Kansas City, Missouri, during a 91.5-point ride last season. Lockwood finally feels like he did before the injury and is confident he can qualify for his sixth consecutive World Finals.
Lockwood will have three regular-season UTB events to attempt to crack the Top 35 and qualify for the 2021 PBR World Finals (Nov. 3-7) in Las Vegas. He is currently 53 points outside of a World Finals spot.
“Even if I make it to just the last two events of the year, that is fine by me,” Lockwood said in August. “If I come back, I know I can win those two events. As long as I know when I come back, I am capable of winning that event, that is fine.
“I should win it and punch my ticket to the World Finals.”
MINOT COULD IMPACT RACE TO WORLD FINALS
Minot is a TPD Major event, which means riders can earn Velocity-level points (7 points for a round win; 30 points for event aggregate win). There are four riders competing Friday night in Minot who are scheduled to then ride in San Antonio on Saturday/Sunday - No. 9 Keyshawn Whitehorse, No. 29 Daylon Swearingen, No. 32 Ezekiel Mitchell and No. 36 Conner Halverson.
Minot is split into two nights of competition. The event winner will be the rider with the highest aggregate score on two outs.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media