Alves Believes PBR Consecutive Rides Record can be Broken

CHICAGO – Silvano Alves may not be in the world title conversation like he once was, but the three-time World Champion has already cemented himself a place in PBR history after setting multiple PBR records so far in his nine-year career.

One of Alves’ most famous records beyond his three World Championships – Adriano Moraes is the only other bull rider to win three PBR gold buckles thus far – is his 24 consecutive rides on the PBR’s premier series.

Alves broke the PBR consecutive rides record when he rode Redbone in Chicago for 85 points three years ago for his 17^th consecutive bull ride.

The Pilar do Sul, Brazil, bull rider would eventually reach the 8-second mark seven more times before Big Dip would buck him off in 2.65 seconds at the 2015 Oklahoma City event, capping Alves’ PBR record at 24.

The previous PBR record was held by two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney (16 straight) and Terry Don West (15).

The PBR is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary in 2018, and Alves’ record may stand for another 25 years.

Alves said last week during the 25^th PBR: Unleash the Beast season-opener in New York City that he believes riding 24 bulls in a row was actually harder than winning his three gold buckles.

So does that mean he thinks no rider will ever break his record?

“I don’t know,” Alves said. “I think some guys can break it because there are a lot of young guys riding really good. I will try again, but for me I am very happy to have this record. If any of the guys break my record, all of the guys will remember me as the first one. I am just very happy and thank God for helping me all the time.”

Two-time World Champion Justin McBride has long said that records are always meant to be broken, but even he believes the consecutive ride record may be one that lasts for pretty long time.

“I think it will stand for quite a while, I am guessing,” McBride said. “That is a record that not a lot of guys think of. So you are going to see guys get bucked off because they are taking re-rides trying to win. You are not going to see guys going after that record. That is one that is just going to have to happen. Maybe if someone got close and they start paying attention to it then maybe. That is not one that is ever in a guy’s mind. They are trying to ride every bull.”

While there are riders capable of reaching that mark, McBride believes the changes in the PBR in recent years that put an emphasis on winning rounds, as well as simply placing high in a round, will factor into a rider’s ability to get a ride streak into the 20s.

“You are going to see the guys that are capable of riding that many bulls in a row, you are not going to see them do it more than likely because they are getting on re-rides trying to win a World Championship and are going to come down here and there.”

Alves’ streak began on Oct. 3, 2014, as he was making a come-from-behind march toward a record-tying third World Championship.

During his 6-for-6 World Finals performance, Alves ended 2012 World Champion Bull Asteroid’s streak of 30 consecutive buckoffs and rode the bovine superstar for 87.25 points to win the World Finals and the World Championship.

2014 was the last year that a rider’s ride score counted directly toward the world standings.

Alves averaged 81.91 points per ride over the course of his 24 consecutive rides. However, if you take out his six re-rides he turned down (two were scored 80 points or more) his average score soars to 85.94 points per ride.

Alves wasn’t aware of the PBR record until after he clinched his third World Championship.

“I didn’t pay attention to it,” he said. “I just kept riding each bull. When it finished, I saw it, but I wasn’t really sure.”

Some may put an asterisk next to the record because of the six re-rides he turned down, but even so, 24 consecutive rides is a record that is going to be real hard to surpass.

“Re-rides or not, 24 rides in a row in the PBR is a big deal,” McBride said. “You might see a guy approach it, but I don’t expect it.”

Even Alves admits he is unsure if he could even approach that number again.

The 30-year-old has disappeared from the world title conversation ever since he broke his left hip in Nampa, Idaho, three months after his consecutive ride record came to a halt.

Moraes, and many others, thought there was still more to come from Alves before his injury.

No one is sure if Alves will ever regain his previous championship form, or fire, but Alves has still done some damage in the bull riding arena the last two seasons.

He isn’t as consistent as he once was, but Alves did go 4-for-6 at the World Finals last year for a second-place finish, which pushed him to 11^th in the final world rankings.

“I am very happy because I finished with a very good Finals,” Alves said. “I want to stay the same way and I am very happy right now. My confidence. I am healthy. It is good.”

Alves heads into this weekend’s Chicago Invitational following a 1-for-3 showing in New York and 1-for-2 at the Denver PBR Chute Out (Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour).

He has drawn Lost Soul (11-for-2, Premier Series) for Round 1.

If Alves wants to pull off another PBR record in 2018 – a fourth world title – he knows getting off to a fast start is imperative.

“It is very important because right now all of the bull riders are at zero points,” he said. “Everyone is so close so you have to start fast. If you start slow, to come back good is harder.”