Richardson chasing Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour championship 24 days after surgery for a broken collarbone
Austin Richardson tied for eighth place in Round 1 at the Velocity Finals and is sitting sixth in the Velocity Tour standings.
LAS VEGAS – Austin Richardson did not have much time to overthink how his right shoulder would feel on Saturday night during Round 1 of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals.
Richardson was slated to be the first man out of the gate inside the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center 24 days since Dr. Tandy Freeman used 13 screws and a plate to repair Richardson’s broken collarbone on his right riding arm.
The 21-year-old bull rider believed he was ready for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals, but he had not been on a bull since Capone bucked him off in 5.68 seconds at the PBR U.S. Border Patrol Invitational, presented by Ariat, in San Antonio on Oct. 3.
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Richardson quickly showed he could knock the rust off and pick things right back up in the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Championship race by riding Johnny Greyback for 85 points to tie with 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco for an eighth-place finish in Round 1.
“It feels great, and I thought it was going to be a whole lot worse, but after that second week of recovery, it started feeling like I could start doing things with it,” Richardson said. “I tried to keep it easy, but I was using resistant bands and trying to keep it active.”
Richardson had a checkup with Dr. Freeman earlier this week, where he was cleared to return to competition.
“Tandy was happy with the X-ray, and he told me he would release me, so I told him I would go home and get on a barrel or something and really try to test it out,” Richardson said. “And I did that, and it felt great.”
The 21-year-old is not the first bull rider to return from surgery for a broken collarbone in only a few weeks. Notably, Cooper Davis returned to action in only 17 days after breaking his riding arm collarbone late during his 2016 championship season.
Now with his first ride since the surgery under his belt, Richardson can get back to pursuing the $50,000 2021 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Championship Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.
Richardson is sitting sixth in the Velocity Tour standings and is only 34.5 points behind injured No. 1 Michael Lane (broken thumb). An event average victory at the Velocity Tour Finals is worth 60 points toward the standings.
Richardson has drawn Derailment (0-0) for Round 2 (6:30 p.m. ET, RidePass on Pluto TV).
Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Standings
1. Michael Lane (120 points)
2. Manoelito de Souza Junior (-12 points)
3. Conner Halverson (-22 points)
4. Adriano Salgado (-26.5 points)
5. Keyshawn Whitehorse (-27 points)
6. Austin Richardson (-34.5 points)
7. Lane Nobles (-40.5 points)
8. Grayson Cole (-41.67 points)
9. Paulo Ferreira Lima (-43.17 points)
10. Eli Vastbinder (-47.5 points)
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Richardson is no stranger to success at the Velocity Tour Finals and South Point Arena. Two years ago, he went 2-for-3 to finish second in the event and secure a World Finals wild card berth at only 18 years old.
“It is pretty cool when you come here, and you made it to the Velocity Tour Finals, and you know you have a chance to go to the World Finals if you do great,” he said.
Richardson is ranked 30th in the world standings and is already qualified for his second career PBR World Finals.
The Texas bull rider is no longer an unknown inside the South Point Arena, and Sunday could be the next step up the ladder in his development if he can claim his first Velocity Tour Championship.
“I try to keep it all easy and no rushing and no nothing,” Richardson said. “I try to stay calm and collected and stay focused. I don’t try to let everything get in my way. It is pretty cool that I am stepping up to that level and people are recognizing my name.
“That makes me proud of myself for sure.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media