We’re nearing the end of the season, action is picking up, and RidePass on Pluto TV has all the coverage you’re looking for.
First, tune in to channel 720 on Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. ET for the newest episode of According to Flint, hosted by the PBR’s exclusive entertainer Flint Rasmussen. This week, Rasmussen talks about the past weekend in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the upcoming event in Lincoln, Nebraska, while bullfighter Cody Webster joins to talk about the forthcoming PBR World Finals and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. You won’t want to miss it!
Then, don’t forget about the Indian National Finals Rodeo, taking place all week on RidePass on Pluto TV. The top Native American rodeo athletes in the country – including the PBR’s own Cody Jesus – will be in action on Thursday and Friday at 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. ET and Saturday at 2 and 10:45 p.m. ET.
And finally, tune in for exclusive coverage of the final regular-season Unleash The Beast event of 2021. The PBR World Finals begin on Nov. 3, and it all comes down to Lincoln for riders looking to earn significant points in the world standings.
Round 1 of the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational airs LIVE on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET.
(And don’t forget that RidePass on Pluto TV features PBR content streaming 24/7 for free.)
WHERE THINGS STAND HEADING INTO LINCOLN: Last weekend in Manchester, New Hampshire, Jesse Petri won the first premier series event of his career.
Petri went 2-for-3 to take the event win and improved to No. 13 in the world standings, all but locking up his first World Finals berth. He also made moves in the Rookie of the Year race and now sits at No. 3.
When it comes to the world title contenders, world No. 2 Kaique Pacheco finished second overall in Manchester to close the gap between himself and world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme to 635 points.
“I just try to focus on one bull at a time, like I say all the time, and I will try to ride every bull,” Pacheco said.
The world title race is currently without Leme, who suffered a Grade 2 sprain of his right groin before a setback in the practice pen extended the injury into a core muscle strain, and world No. 3 Cooper Davis, who missed Manchester and is questionable for Lincoln with a strained right groin of his own.
But with such a large lead in the world standings, the world title is still Leme’s to lose.
In order for another rider to be a realistic threat to win the world title, he would likely have to be within 700-800 points of Leme. Right now, only Pacheco (-635 points) and Davis (-789 points) are within that range. No. 4 Joao Ricardo Vieira is 1,044 points back.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN LINCOLN: The premier series has made one prior stop in Lincoln, just last season as one of the final events of 2020.
Davis went 3-for-3 to take his first event win of the season, riding Hocus Pocus in the championship round for 92.25 points, his highest-scoring ride of the season. It was his fifth round win of the season, the third-most of any rider, and helped him improve to No. 8 in the world standings.
“It felt good. Heck, I have had a lot of problems in the short round here lately,” Davis said at the time. “I know if I get started off right, I can normally finish alright, too. It kind of sucks to fall off the first one and know you are already one behind. I started off good this weekend, and I got on a little roll. I felt really good.”
En route to the 2020 world title, Jose Vitor Leme finished sixth overall to extend his lead atop the world standings, even if he couldn’t win his fourth consecutive premier series event.
Leme bounced back from a 2.86-second buckoff against Bread Basket in Round 2 to ride Oz for 89 points in the championship round and earn 26 world points.
“It is very important when you buck off one bull and you have a chance to get on another one,” Leme told Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network. “I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to ride again and to get on another bull and make my work. I am so happy.”
What will the action in Manchester bring this year? Tune into RidePass on Pluto TV Saturday night to find out!
Watch the conclusion of the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational on Sunday on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET.
