DULUTH, Ga. – Reigning World Champion Jose Vitor Leme’s world title defense has gotten off to a similar start this weekend as it did a year ago in Ocala, Florida. The good news, though, is that this time, he did not sustain a serious injury.
Leme made his season debut Saturday night at Gas South Arena after missing the first three events of 2022 recovering from a core muscle injury, and he was welcomed back by Blue Duck rocking him in 3.92 seconds. Blue Duck was marked a Round 1-high 45.75 points as he jerked Leme into the air and sent the two-time World Champion crashing down to earth on the bovine’s back before tumbling to the arena floor.
The 25-year-old then got up a bit gingerly, holding his right thumb, which had popped out of socket during his buckoff. Leme was diagnosed with a dislocated IPJ joint of his thumb, and the PBR Sports Medicine staff was able to get the joint back into place.
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Leme is probable for Championship Sunday (8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network).
Leme, who broke his ankle last season in his first out as the defending World Champion, told PBR.com that he will be “good to go” for his Sunday matchup against Cold Chill in Duluth and that his body felt good in his first action since the 2021 PBR World Finals.
The five-time PBR World Finals qualifier is attempting to become the first rider in PBR history to win three consecutive world titles.
“I feel confidence again,” Leme said before Round 1. “I’m ready to ride bulls again. It’s never happened before, so I think it’s going to be very hard. I’m here to pay the price, do my job, do the best I can like I do every time, and see what God has for me.”
ALVES ALSO PROBABLE FOR ROUND 2
According to Dr. Freeman, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves is probable for Round 2 after lacerating his left elbow when Hostage bucked him off in 2.81 seconds. Alves had his elbow sutured in the training room.
Alves is slated to face Hocus Pocus in Round 2.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media