PILAR DO SUL, Brazil – Even though Silvano Alves was unable to ride in his PBR Brazil event this past weekend in Pilar Do Sul, the three-time World Champion still could not stand still.
Alves, who is still recovering from his left hip fracture, served as a pickup rider in the arena throughout the event.
“I was not going to stay put behind the chutes,” Alves said.
In fact, Alves made sure to not bring his bull riding equipment to Brazil so that he wouldn’t be tempted to try and ride.
“I’m not yet released to ride,” Alves said. “I had long wanted to ride here in my town, but I need to be 100 percent recovered.”
Alves worked hard in the days before the event so that everything would be perfect. He worked closely with stock contractors about which bulls would compete at his event.
“I am very happy with the result, we made one of the best events in Brazil with very good bulls and with many famous bull riders,” Alves said. “I realized when I saw the stands packed with people watching the riders, ”
One of those famous bull riders was Robson Palermo, who competed in Brazil for the first time since the PBR World Cup event in Barretos in 2009.
The 10-year Built Ford Tough Series veteran and three-time World Finals event winner finished 2-for-4 at Alves’ event.
“Silvano is a great friend,” Palermo said. “He invited me and because of him I am here.”
Palermo explained that his injury history was the main reason he was unable to ever really compete back home in Brazil once he began riding in America.
“If you look at my history of injuries, all the summer breaks I was recovering from an injury,” he said.
Palermo is expected to return to the U.S. in time for next week’s BlueDEF Velocity Tour event on July 15, which will be streamed exclusively on CarbonTV.com.
Alves also came away impressed with Luciano de Castro. The 19-year-old went 5-for-5 to win his first Monster Energy PBR Brazil event.
Castro rode Dilúvio for 90 points in the championship round. The win puts Castro into the lead atop the PBR Brazil standings.
Alves believes Castro may be able to follow in the footsteps of other Brazilian bull riders that succeeded in America such as Adriano Moraes, Guilherme Marchi and Joao Ricardo Vieira.
“Ever since I saw this boy riding bulls for the first time, I realized his talent and I’m a fan of it,” Alves said. “I think this guy will win a world title.”
Castro rides with a light, agile style and shows no fear when challenged by his bovine opponents.
“I am very happy, listening to these words of the best bull rider in the world,” Castro said of Alves. “I believe that my challenge will be the English language.”
Alves will leave Brazil at the end of the month and is hopeful he will be ready for the Built Ford Tough Series second-half opener in Biloxi, Mississippi.
“I hope to have the same success I had been doing,” Alves said. “I am recovering well, I hope to return soon.”
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