ST. LOUIS – The upcoming Unleash The Beast schedule could be exactly what 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco needs to turn his 2022 season around.
Pacheco has been far from himself this year. The perennial world title contender had bucked off seven consecutive bulls before he won Round 2 of the PBR TicketSmarter Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, on Saturday night with his 88.75-point ride on Mike’s Effect.
The 27-year-old had missed the last three events because of a left shoulder injury. Before he injured his AC joint on Jan. 22 when he was bucked off by Mr. Right Now in Duluth, Georgia, he was mired in a 1-for-7 slump to begin the season.
Then there was also the fact that Pacheco missed the PBR Major Monster Energy Buck off at the Garden in New York City because of COVID-19.
Simply put, it has been hard for Pacheco to get into any rhythm this season, the 2015 PBR Rookie of the Year admitted in St. Louis.
“I don’t like to take a lot of breaks,” Pacheco said. “After World Finals, I take a break (and returned home to Brazil). Then I came back and had COVID. I did not feel really bad with COVID, but I stayed home and just in my room to be safe for other people, for my girlfriend. I just had to stay home.”
Pacheco and the rest of the Unleash The Beast riders will not be getting much time to rest this week as St. Louis was the first of three events in seven days.
The UTB next heads to Los Angeles on Tuesday night for the PBR Pluto TV Invitational before shifting back east to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the PBR Bad Boy Mowers Mowdown on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s both good and hard,” Pacheco said. “We need to have a little break for recovery of the body. But at the same time, it’s good because you keep riding bulls and stay in good shape.”
Fans can watch the entire Los Angeles event exclusively on RidePass on Pluto TV at 10:45 p.m. ET.
The upcoming schedule could benefit Pacheco as he attempts to work his way back into the Top 25 of the world standings as it will give him ample opportunity to get back to churning out 8-second rides like he is accustomed to doing.
Pacheco, who is only 2-for-10 in 2022, wound up finishing St. Louis 1-for-3 and in eighth place following his 6.74-second buckoff against Detroit Lean in the championship round.
However, Pacheco still earned 33 world points courtesy of his Round 2 win to rocket from No. 109 to No. 51 in the world standings. He is only 54 points behind No. 25 Ramon de Lima, who went 2-for-3 for a seventh-place finish and picked up 29 world points to move from No. 31 to No. 25.
“It’s really important for me,” Pacheco said. “I hurt my shoulder a couple weeks ago, and I just make the rehab and make everything I can to come back healthier and stronger. I’m really happy to ride my bull today. He’s a great bull from Blake Sharp.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media