As the PBR's Unleash The Beast invades Albany, New York’s MVP Arena this weekend for its fifth installment of intense bull riding action, PBR.com is highlighting some of the series’ most memorable moments, top riders, career achievements and beyond!

• RAMPING IT UP: Just prior to the holiday pause, during the PBR Manchester Invitational, bull riding fans witnessed one of the most electric sessions of the young season when eight cowboys bested their championship round opponents before a rowdy audience. Furthermore, the weekend as a whole produced the second-most qualified rides in the first four events (37), with the pack recording a season-best 38 successful rides during the Unleash The Beast opener in Tucson, Arizona, Nov. 26-27

• SPREAD THE LOVE: After seeing Andrew Alvidrez capture his first UTB event win when the tour last bucked in Manchester, New Hampshire, we’ve seen four different riders exit with event titles so far, showing parody definitely exists in the race to be crowned the 2023 World Champion. The cool part about this year’s results, specifically? Three of this year’s first four winners are first-time UTB event-winners (Brady Oleson, Daniel Keeping, Alvidrez) Something even cooler, you say? Four out of the Top 10-ranked riders in the UTB standings qualify for rookie status, AKA, nobody’s safe from cuts!

• INS AND OUTS: This weekend’s PBR Albany Invitational will welcome two first-time UTB riders in Cole Fischer (Jefferson City, MO) and Taylor Allen (Glynn, LA) via the qualifier list. Despite being ranked No. 36 in the UTB standings courtesy of his slow 1-for-8 (12.5%) start to the campaign, Eli Vastbinder is in this weekend as an alternate after going 12-for-30 (40%) with the Oklahoma Freedom during the inaugural PBR Team Series.

  Wingson Henrique da Silva, Adriano Salgado and Caminhas were also deemed list-minute scratches from the lineup due to travel issues, while Joao Ricardo Vieira is set to make his 2023 premier series debut Thursday night after sustaining a concussion and broken jaw with the Texas Rattlers at the PBR Team Series Championship Nov. 5.

For all of the statistics, stories and standards heading into this weekend's PBR Albany Invitational, be sure to check out this week's Game Notes!

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media