PUEBLO, Colo. – The 2024 Unleash the Beast class is already being revered as one of the most talented group of riders the industry has seen in quite some time.

But after seeing a majority of the new kids on the block succeed and even impress throughout the second season of PBR Camping World Team Series action, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise!

These guys found their comfort zones learning from the sport’s legends and haven’t looked back. We’re talking about guys like World No. 1 Cassio Dias, who has exited two of the premier series’ first three events in the winner’s circle, which represent his first and second UTB event wins, respectively.

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Getting the job done in initially in St. Louis, Missouri, the skilled 22-year-old followed it up just last weekend in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, going a combined 6-for-7 throughout the two events. Sitting atop the standings with a tour-best 9-for-10 record, the Kansas City Outlaws’ pillar isn’t showing any signs of slowing down as he chases his first gold buckle.

Most recently sealing the deal with a now tour-high 91.75-point conversion aboard Cy Young, it’s easy to see why he’s not only the future of the sport.

He’s also the now. 

Yet, it’s not just Dias for showing out for the first years.

Rookie Caden Bunch, who rides for the Florida Freedom in the separate PBR Teams circuit, started the year with a bang en route to posting a flawless 3-for-3 record during the season-opening showdown in Tucson, Arizona. Continuing to rank No. 3 overall, he’s one of three rookies sitting amongst the tour’s Top 4 in what’s quickly becoming the Year of the first timers.

But with this year hardly representing No. 4 Sage Steele Kimzey’s first time in the chutes, the seven-time PRCA world champion is technically also considered a rookie during this year’s slate, as he’s typically opted into the rodeo side of competition this time of the year.

But 2024 is a new season. One he plans to spend competing against the best bull riders in the world.

The most impressive part about his No. 4 rank is that the 29-year-old wasn’t even competing last weekend in Johnstown, as he returned to the NFR for some action over there, and will plan to do the same this weekend, missing the tour’s fourth stop of the season in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Regardless, the talented rider is here to post rank scores, and in two events this year, he’s done just that. Fans can expect the same when he returns to action in Albany, New York, Dec. 29-30.

Also making some waves during their first season under the brightest lights in the business, 19-year-old Julio Cesar Marques (ranked No. 15) and 22-year-old rookie Felipe Furlan (ranked No. 30), who just turned in an encouraging 12th-place finish during his UTB debut last weekend, have taken advantage of their early opportunities to shine after getting familiar with the big leagues this past summer.

Coming up just short of Joao Ricardo Vieira’s eventual MVP-earning performance at the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, (granted to the rider with the highest aggregate total at the end of the three-day postseason gauntlet) Furlan’s 4-for-5 effort during the series’ biggest tour may have marked his coming out party, because this kid means business. 

Sitting in the No. 11 spot, however, is a 26-year-old rookie by the name of Paulo Eduardo Rosseto. Now 5-for-9 through the first three premier series appearances of his career, he managed a pair of 2-for-3 performances to open the season before logging an 84.5-point conversion atop Coolio in Johnstown to keep his event ride streak alive.

A member of the Missouri Thunder, he and summertime teammate Joao Lucas Campos (ranked No. 22) are holding it down as the future of their dynasty-forward squad watch on as the athletes’ stock continues to trend up.

Star-to-be John Crimber may be the real gem of this 2024 class but has only found the whistle in one of his first five attempts. After getting banged up in St. Louis, the 18-year-old sat out of last weekend’s competition and is primed to rest up during this weekend’s showdown inside SNHU Arena as well.

Can the thrills of the first-year hopefuls continue to fuel the world’s top-tiered tour?

Or will the talented animal athletes figure out a way to crack the newcomers?

Fans can tune into this weekend’s PBR Manchester event for two days and three rounds of rank bull riding action, beginning on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m. EST via RidePass on Pluto TV.

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media