What to Watch For: New York Mavericks rookie Hudson Bolton set to resume first-year campaign in Albuquerque
Can the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 PBR Teams Rider Draft resume his standout season?
By James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – Friday night’s Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by Camping World, showdown between the Austin Gamblers and Texas Rattlers is set to feature a whole lotta star power as the sport’s top tour prepares to invade The Pit March 28 during the PBR Albuquerque Ty Murray Invitational.
Set to overtake the final 12 outs of competition in Round 1, the summer series’ defending PBR Teams Champions in the Gamblers have a reputation to defend.
But after claiming the first game of the best-of-three series earlier this season in Houston, Texas, the Rattlers know they can outright claim the Texas Cup while establishing some extra bragging rights ahead of the fourth season of camaraderie-driven competition.
While each of the Top 3-ranked riders within the Unleash The Beast standings are set to participate within the 6 vs. 6 contest, the biggest point of interest heading into the weekend revolves around a different star:
Two-time World Champion and two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme, who’s trending towards a return sooner than later.
And for as exciting as it would be to see Leme team up with the likes of No. 1 Dalton Kasel, No. 3 Sage Steele Kimzey and No. 8 Kaique Pacheco for the first time in coordinated colors, we’d be thankful in another right just to see Leme back atop the chutes in any fashion at this point.
But after attempting some practice bulls this week, it seems Leme needs another week or so to truly feel good about returning with a full bill of health.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other cowboys heating up worth keeping an eye on.
And … QUITE the world title race heating up between the likes of Kasel, No. 2 Brady Fielder and company!
Yet, in a season which has featured a quiet 2024 PBR Rookie of the Year Race, we’re choosing to welcome back first-year standout Hudson Bolton in this week’s “What to Watch For”, who’s set to lace ‘em up for the first time since getting banged up in the Windy City in early January.
Storming into his inaugural lap around the country participating in the elite Unleash The Beast in December of 2024, he made it clear he would serve as the Rookie of the Year frontrunner after making some sincere splashes during his first month on tour.
Recording an eighth-place finish in Wichita, Kansas, during his outright premier series debut, Bolton got a taste of success and only wanted to fill his plate.
Knocking down at least one bull in each of his five total appearances, the New York Mavericks’ youngster has only settled for Top 20, check that, Top 16 finishes so far during his short stint on UTB.
Peeling back the bread layers of his short-term sandwich of a showing, he’s managed a pair of No. 16 finishes in Manchester, New Hampshire, and most recently during his first trip to Chicago’s United Center.
But it’s the juicy, tasty layers sandwiched between that makes Hudson a threat to return with some juice Friday night.
As one of just four cowboys to stay perfect in Albany, New York, he managed a career-best fourth-place finish inside MVP Arena as he got a bit heftier of a helping.
Staying hungry the following weekend, all while claiming a sixth-place result in New York City, the 19-year-old reminded fans why he was selected No. 3 overall by the Mavericks in the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft:
Because he can ride bulls well and show them off at an extra circular rate.
Despite measuring in at a square six feet during the early-season content capture, he’s been able to make the most of his bovine opponents during the small sample we’ve seen during this year’s World Championship race.
Showing signs of improvement every step of the way since hearing his name called last spring, he’s returning to an encouraging 9-for-14 (64.29%) record as he prepares to compete for the first time in more than two months.
Which is quite the encouraging rate after seeing him best just one third of his animal athlete opponents (5-for-15) during his first season of PBR Camping World Team Series action.
While his first-lap honors have since expired within the 5-on-5 landscape, Bolton has a chance to chase down No. 10 Anderson de Oliveira, the current leader atop the Rookie of the Year race, starting Friday night during his dance with Hunter.
Hell, even if he isn’t able to overcome the 284.83 UTB points that separate himself from Oliveira, there’s something to be said about continuing to endure high-quality reps under the brightest lights in the business. Just having the kid back in the locker room with the boys, potentially even suiting up for his Mavericks later this season as they close out their series against the Florida Freedom.
After all, the 2025 PBR Teams Rider Draft was just announced, meaning the fourth season of camaraderie-driven action is right around the corner!
So, be sure to tune into this weekend’s action down south LIVE and FREE to see if Bolton can kickstart his late-season grind during his first trip to The Pit!
This weekend’s PBR Albuquerque Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is set to begin Friday, March 28 at 7:45 p.m. MT as the best bull riders in the world prepare to duke it out inside The Pit throughout the three-day showcase.
The action will continue Saturday, March 29 at 6:45 p.m. MT with the second round before concluding Sunday, March 30 at 1:45 p.m. PT with Round 3, followed by the short go, as riders look to capture crucial UTB points in the race for the 2025 PBR World Championship.
