KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the first three-day, team-hosted homestand in PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition, the Arizona Ridge Riders went an undefeated 3-0 to win PBR Outlaw Days in Kansas City, Missouri.
During the opening day of competition of five-on-five bull riding games Friday night inside T-Mobile Center, the Ridge Riders defeated the host Kansas City Outlaws by one ride score, 170.5-80.25, to collect their first game win in the Show Me State.
The Ridge Riders earned their second win of the event by one qualified ride Saturday evening as they bested the Oklahoma Freedom 168.25-87.25.
As Sunday’s competition got underway, the Ridge Riders had the chance to clinch the event win early when they squared off against the Nashville Stampede. Going a torrid 4-for-5 (80%), the Ridge Riders dominated the Stampede, remaining perfect with a 311-87 victory.
Despite Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) bucking off in the Bonus Round in 4.84 seconds aboard Manaba (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co.), earning the squad just 3 bonus points, his team’s efforts in game play clinched the victory.
The Ridge Riders (4-1) also overtook the Missouri Thunder (4-1) for the No. 1 rank in the early 2022 PBR Team Series season standings. While each team holds a 4-1 record, the Ridge Riders surpassed the Thunder via their 9 collective bonus points, while the Thunder have just 8.
The PBR Team Series will next travel to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, for the second of two neutral-site events scheduled during the 2022 regular season. The event will be on Friday, August 12 at 7:45 p.m. PT and Saturday, August 13 at 6:45 p.m. PT.
The game matchups for the opening night of competition in California on August 12 are:
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Kansas City. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
Arizona Ridge Riders: 311
Nashville Stampede: 87
The Arizona Ridge Riders continued their red-hot momentum Sunday afternoon.
Covering 80% of their bulls in their five outs to remain undefeated in Kansas City, the Ridge Riders defeatedthe Nashville Stampede to clinch the PBR Team Series Outlaw Days event win.
After watching on as the Stampede’s Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma) was bucked off by Show Me Homie (Jo-Z Bucking Bulls/K-C/Spark-lin Acres), Alisson De Souza (Taubate, Brazil) set the tone early for the Ridge Riders, covering his fifth consecutive bull in PBR Team Series competition when he desperately gutted out the 8 on Dark Fantasy (Paradigm Bull Co.) for 77.5 points.
The lead, however, was quickly erased in the top of the second. First-round draft pick Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) was quick to give the Stampede the lead as he rode Tested’s Viper (Hookin’ W/Leflore Bucking Bulls) for 87 points.
2018 PBR World Finals event-winner Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) was bucked off by Falcon Eddie (Lari Crane/Gene Owen) in 5.62 seconds in what would be the first and only time a Ridge Rider would hit the ground before the 8 in the game against the Stampede.
In the third round, it was Thiago Salgado (Navirai, Brazil) slated to ride for the Nashville contingent and Sandro Batista (Pedra Preta, Brazil) up for the Ridge Riders.
Salgado was no match for Another Lunatic (Frihauf Cattle Co.), but on a herky-jerky turbulent ride, Batista covered Contusion (Sho-Me Rodeo) for 70.25 points.
Despite being awarded a re-ride, Ridge Riders coaches Paulo Crimber and Colby Yates elected to keep the score and put the Ridge Riders up a bull, giving them back the lead, 147.75-87.
The Ridge Riders’ streak continued, delivering two unanswered scores to clinch the victory.
With Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) riding I’m A Secret (K-C Bucking Bulls/Bull Creek Bucking Bulls) for 75.75 points and declining a re-ride, and Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) concluding the contest with a game-best 88.5-point ride aboard Cliff Hanger (Pioneer Bulls), the Ridge Riders (4-1) clinched the PBR Outlaw Days event win, 311-87, over the Stampede (2-3).
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media