Texas Rattlers: 177 / Missouri Thunder: 0
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The surging Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, appear to be unstoppable, riding two bulls to defeat the Missouri Thunder 177-0 on Sunday on the third and final day of the inaugural PBR Team Series Ridge Rider Days event.
By winning their 10th game in a row, Texas finished the event a perfect 3-0 for the third consecutive weekend, ending their regular season at 16-12.
“We started slow. I always knew we could get better, and that’s still the plan,” said Ratters Head Coach Cody Lambert.
Winning the game moved the previously No. 5-ranked Rattlers to No. 2 in the league as they pushed for the No. 1 seed heading into the PBR Team Series Championship in Las Vegas (Nov. 4-6).
Texas put the first score on the board right out of the gate when leadoff rider Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) collected an 87.5-point score and the Rattlers’ 11th consecutive qualified ride in his matchup with CR’s Brindle T (Mann Creek Bucking Bulls).
Unable to answer back, Missouri’s Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) hit the dirt after 3.60 seconds.
After a scoreless second frame, Texas again came in clutch when Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil), who came into Sunday 2-for-2 on the weekend, bested High Plains Drifter (Flying C/ Flying P Bucking Bulls) for 89.5 points. That would ultimately become the last score of the game.
The animal athletes prevailed in the bottom of the third, as well as fourth and fifth frames, with no other riders on either team recording a score the remainder of the game.
As a result of the loss, the sixth time Missouri was shut out this season, the No. 6 Thunder finished the regular season 13-15. The red-hot Texas Rattlers finished the season at 16-12.
As the Bonus Round got underway, the Rattlers were tied for the event lead alongside the Austin Gamblers who, in their third-day matchup with the Arizona Ridge Riders, clinched the top seed heading into Las Vegas for the PBR Team Series Championship (Nov. 4-6).
In the pivotal tie-break scenario to win the event, Rattlers Head Coach Cody Lambert matched Vieira with I’m Legit Too (Hale Cattle Co). Vieira was in complete control, delivering a walk-off 91.75-point ride to clinch the event win for Texas.
The PBR Team Series will next travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the inaugural PBR Team Series Championship at T-Mobile Arena, where the first league champion will be crowned. The event will be on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:45 p.m. PT, Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:45 p.m. PT and Sunday, Nov. 6, at 12:45 p.m. PT.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Glendale’s Ridge Rider Days. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.