WORCESTER, Ma. – As a sold-out Saturday night crowd watched on, Joao Paulo Fernandes (Hidrolina, Brazil) rode lights-out, winning Round 1 of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour competition inside DCU Center, surging to an early lead at PBR Worcester.

Fernandes delivered the top score of Round 1 when he teamed with Matthew (C-B Bucking Bulls) for an unrivaled 85 points. The golden finish earned him 28 Velocity Global points in the race to be crowned the 2024 PBR Velocity Tour Champion.

The surging Brazilian will look to remain atop the leaderboard in Round 2 when he takes on Black Sox (Painted Pony Championship Rodeo).

Second was Grayson Cole (New Ringgold, Pennsylvania).

Cole, who rides for the Florida Freedom in the separate PBR Teams league, topped Air Shift (Mike Miller bucking Bulls) for 84.5 points to earn 18 Velocity Global points.

Grande Patron (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) awaits Cole in Round 2.

Trent Nugent (Kirbyville, Texas) finished third courtesy of his 79.5-point ride aboard Recall (J Bar W). He collected 16 Velocity Global points.

In Round 2, Nugent will look to record his second score in as many attempts when he takes on Duke Of Earl (J Bar W).

Riding Magic Mike (Lucky E Rodeo) for 71.5 points, Eduardo de Oliveira (Nova Lacerda, Brazil) was fourth, garnering 8 Velocity Global points.

Oliveira will look to climb the standings in Round 2 when he attempts Monkey Doo (C-B Bucking Bulls).

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Marcos Gloria (Central de Minas, Brazil). His 50.5-point ride on High Times (Lucky E Rodeo) earned him 7 Velocity Global points.

Gloria has drawn Maximus (Painted Pony Championship Rodeo) in Round 2.

Action for PBR Worcester will conclude with Round 2 and the championship round on Sunday, Feb. 25. Action gets underway at 2:00 p.m. EST.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer re-airs and on-demand replays of every Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event. PBR RidePass is available on desktops, laptops and mobile devices via www.pluto.tv. Click here for on-demand PBR programming.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour PBR Worcester DCU Center – Worcester, Massachusetts Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points) 1. João Paulo Fernandes, 85-0-0-85.00-28 Points. 2. Grayson Cole, 84.5-0-0-84.50-18 Points. 3. Trent Nugent, 79.5-0-0-79.50-16 Points. 4. Eduardo de Oliveira, 71.5-0-0-71.50-8 Points. 5. Marcos Gloria, 50.5-0-0-50.50-7 Points. Hunter Ball, 0-0-0-0.00 Ednei Caminhas, 0-0-0-0.00 Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 0-0-0-0.00 Dustin Martinez, 0-0-0-0.00 Bryan Titman, 0-0-0-0.00 Ueberson Duarte, 0-0-0-0.00 Wesley Goncalves, 0-0-0-0.00 Jose Muralles, 0-0-0-0.00 Paulo Rodriguez, 0-0-0-0.00 Vinicius Rainer, 0-0-0-0.00 Eder Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00 Perry Schrock, 0-0-0-0.00 Gabriel Thiago Da Silva, 0-0-0-0.00 Kane Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00 Brandon Ferguson, 0-0-0-0.00 Carlos Henrique de Souza, 0-0-0-0.00 Vitor Crespo, 0-0-0-0.00 Lucas Felix, 0-0-0-0.00 Gabriel Honorato, 0-0-0-0.00 Geferson Damascena, 0-0-0-0.00 Cristhian Felipe Pereira Maia, 0-0-0-0.00 Jeferson Silva, 0-0-0-0.00 Diego Alves, 0-0-0-0.00 Marlon Henrique, 0-0-0-0.00 Gustavo Santos Borges, 0-0-0-0.00 Dakota Johnson, 0-0-0-0.00 Douglas da Silva Barreto, 0-0-0-0.00 Wegner Souza, 0-0-0-0.00 Yuri Charles, 0-0-0-0.00 Marco Anthonio Silva Santos, 0-0-0-0.00 Photo courtesy of Cassie Mackiewicz