2022 PBR Teams’ MVP Jose Vitor Leme leads Gamblers to victory over Outlaws
Kasel set it up, Leme knocked em' down as the talented duo put on a show in Cheyenne Monday night.
CHEYENNE, Wy. – Opening night of the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Camping World Team Series season featured two PBR World Champions leading their team to victory, a double-shut out, an MVP posting the first 90-point ride of the season and a rookie coming off the bench to secure a victory for his team.
In the first matchup of the season, the Carolina Cowboys bested the Texas Rattlers in the highest-scoring game of the day thanks to clutch performances from former 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen and 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis.
The powerful bovine competitors then bounced back, pitching the third double-shutout in Team Series history by keeping both the 2022 PBR Team Series World Champion Nashville Stampede and the Missouri Thunder off the board.
2022 PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme got off to a great start to give the Gamblers the edge over the Kansas City Outlaws in the third game, as he surged to an early lead in the 2023 MVP race with the only 90-point ride of the night.
Austin Gamblers: Jose Vitor Leme rides Red River for 90.5 points
Jose Vitor Lemerides Red River for 90.5 points in Game 3 of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series event at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY
In the final matchup, rookie Elizmar Jeremias came off the bench after the Oklahoma Freedom were awarded a re-ride and led his team to victory over the Arizona Ridge Riders.
The PBR Camping World Team Series event from Cheyenne continues tomorrow, Tuesday, July 25, at 7:45 p.m. MDT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office or online at PBR.com, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Cheyenne. Fans can also tune in to CBS Sports network at 10 p.m. ET for the first three games of the event. On Sunday, July 30, fans can tune in to CBS Television network at noon ET (check your local listings) for the CBS Game of the Week, the Carolina Cowboys at the Arizona Ridge Riders. Click here for the latest programming schedule.
Austin Gamblers: 177
Kansas City Outlaws: 88.25
The Austin Gamblers (1-0) defeated the Kansas City Outlaws (0-1), 177 – 88.25, in the third game of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series.
Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) looked to get the 2022 regular season champs off to a hot start but was unseated by Mike’s Motive (Blake Sharp/High Voltage/Wetzel/Knott) in 5.34 seconds.
The buckoff gave the Outlaws a chance to take an early lead, and Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil), who the team acquired from the Carolina Cowboys via trade in the offseason, delivered, topping I’m Legit Too (Hart Cattle Co/Hale) for 88.25 points.
Kansas City Outlaws: Wingson Henrique da Silva rides I'm Legit Too for 88.25 points
Wingson Henrique da Silva rides I'm Legit Too for 88.25 points in Game 3 of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series event at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY
Austin immediately responded as Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) sat tall atop Whatever (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Ken Barnhart) for 86.5 points to close the deficit.
Kansas City then turned to Marcus Mast (Middlebury, Indiana), who had a breakout year with the team in 2022, but he was unable to make the whistle atop Milk Mustache (Ty Rinaldo TZ Bucking Bulls).
After the next three riders were also unseated, the door was open for 2022 PBR Team Series MVP Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) to give his team the lead with only one out remaining. The two-time PBR World Champion rocketed out of the chutes atop Red River (Ty Rinaldo TZ Bucking Bulls) amidst the raucous bull riding faithful, lasting the 8 for a monstrous 90.5 points to give his team an 88.75-point lead, the first 90-point ride of the 2023 Teams’ season.
Outlaws’ closer Bob Mitchell (Steelville, Missouri) looked to respond on Commander (Universal Pro Rodeo), but he was unseated in 3.21 seconds, giving the Gamblers the victory.
Austin faces off with the Missouri Thunder (0-1) on Tuesday, while Kansas City attempts to change their fortune against the Oklahoma Freedom (1-0).
“We are really excited to be starting off season two better than we did last year,” Head Coach Michael Gaffney said. “We have really set the sights high for the next Bulls tomorrow night and I think the guys are pleased, I know I am. It is hard when we have guys come down, but we win as a team, and we lose as a team. I am just really proud, there was not one guy who didn’t give 110% tonight and that’s what I want to see - focus and effort. Nothing is ever going to be handed to you in this sport and we are ready to work for it.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media