TACOMA, Wash. – Eduardo Aparecido and Joao Ricardo Vieira would often sit in their apartment in Decatur, Texas, nine years ago and talk about their dreams and aspirations as professional bull riders.
The two Brazilians had just moved to the United States and were amidst their first year in the PBR (2013). Eventually, Vieira and Aparecido would buy their own homes in the U.S. and begin to raise their children in North America.
Of course, both had, and still have, goals of one day winning a PBR World Championship, but neither could have expected they would become the 19th and 20th riders in PBR history to record 300 qualified rides on the premier series.
Aparecido joined his former roommate in the prestigious club last weekend when he rode Catfish for 86.75 points in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“I am very happy for this,” Aparecido said. “I remember when Joao did it (last year), and I knew I would one day get to 300. This year started no good for me, but last week I started riding better, and I got 300. I think I can get to 400, 500. I don’t know.”
Aparecido heads into the PBR Wrangler Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, ranked No. 12 in the world standings. He has drawn Rampage (1-0, UTB) for Round 1 (11:30 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV) at the Tacoma Dome.
“Three-hundred rides is very impressive,” Vieira said. “He rode so good in Brazil, and we were good friends. I remember sharing an apartment in Decatur in 2013. We had a good time together. It is so crazy for us both to now have 300 rides. He is such a good guy. He is older now, but he still rides so good. He is tough.”
Aparecido struggled earlier this season and was briefly cut from the Unleash The Beast. He cemented himself back into the Top 30 for good when he won the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Hampton Classic on March 5.
The 32-year-old has ridden three of his last seven bulls. He had posted three consecutive third-place finishes before going 0-for-1 in Everett on Wednesday night.
Aparecido admitted he was a little bit overweight earlier this season. He increased his workout regimen, which includes running/biking for 40 minutes a day, to help him lose seven pounds.
The nine-time PBR World Finals qualifier weighs 163 pounds, roughly the same weight he was during his world title-contending season in 2017.
“I work out every day to get skinnier,” Aparecido said. “It works for me to ride bulls if I am more skinny. I run or bike every day. I think this helps me, not just in 2017 but every year.”
Aparecido will also be an interesting name to keep an eye on during the May 23 PBR Team Series Draft at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas. Aparecido is currently the second-best right-handed bull rider in the world standings. 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco is the only right-handed bull rider currently inside the Top 10 of the world standings.
“I am excited for Teams,” Aparecido said. “I think it will be a good opportunity.”
TOP 30 RIDERS OUT FOR EVERETT DUE TO INJURY/OTHER
No. 3 Kyler Oliver (concussion/neck)
No. 6 Jose Vitor Leme (concussion/jaw)
No. 10 Stetson Lawrence (neck)
No. 22 Cody Teel (left shoulder)
No. 23 Lucas Divino (left groin)
No. 24 Rafael Henrique dos Santos (groin/birth of child)
No. 30 Andrew Alvidrez (undisclosed injury)
INVITES / EXEMPTIONS
Three riders are competing via invites or exemption – Brandon Davis, Taylor Toves and Colten Fritzlan.
Davis is in the draw as the No. 1-ranked rider on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, while Toves is competing courtesy of his March 26 VT win in Oakland, Calif.
Fritzlan is using the third of his five injury exemptions and is 0-for-3 so far in his return from reconstructive shoulder surgery last September.
ALTERNATES
No. 32 Ramon de Lima
No. 33 Adriano Salgado
No. 34 Ezekiel Mitchell
No. 36 Alex Cardozo
No. 39 Dakota Louis
No. 40 Conner Halverson
No. 42 Alex Marcilio
No. 43 Silvano Alves
No. 44 Casey Coulter
No. 45 Sam Woodall
No. 55 Alisson de Souza
No. 57 Jesse Petri
VIEIRA LOOKS TO EXTEND LEAD FURTHER IN TITLE RACE
Joao Ricardo Vieira went 0-for-2 in Everett, but his 96.34-point lead in the world standings stayed intact, with No. 2 Daylon Swearingen grabbing for his bull rope too early in Round 1.
Vieira has drawn Cold Turkey (0-0, UTB) for Round 1.
ROUND 1 REMATCHES
Adriano Salgado vs. Rock The House (4.67 seconds in Everett)
Austin Richardson vs. WSM’s Nasty Wishes (6.71 seconds last year in Anaheim, Calif.)
Claudio Montanha Jr. vs. Butterfly Kisses (86.5 points last year at the World Finals)
Joao Henrique Lucas vs. Tin Star (86.75 points last year in Las Vegas – regular-season event).
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media