BILLINGS, Mont. – Douglas Duncan missed out at winning the Seattle Invitational three weeks ago when he failed to ride Donardo in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round.
The 27-year-old made sure he didn’t let a chance at evening the score with Donardo get away from him on Saturday night at the Stanley Performance in Action Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.
Duncan rode Donardo for 86.25 points to split the Round 2 victory with Gage Gay, who rode Smoke Wagon, and earn 80 points toward the world standings.
“That is the bull I bucked off in Seattle to win the event,” Duncan said. “I wish I would have rode him for $30,000 instead of $3,500.”
The round win moves Duncan from 31st in the world standings to 29th.
He is currently tied for seventh in the event average and wishes he wouldn’t have slapped Smoke Show on Friday night in Round 1.
“I wish I didn’t treat it like a petting zoo (Friday) night and used two hands, I would have had a pretty good average.” Duncan said. “I am confident and I am ready to win one of these damn things.”
The six-year BFTS veteran has yet to win a BFTS event.
“I know I am here for a reason and one of the top bull riders in the world,” Duncan said. “I know what I am capable of. I am ready to prove it.”
Rounding out the Top 5 behind Duncan and Gay was Guilherme Marchi (85.75 points on Guns & Donuts), Eduardo Aparecido (85.25 points on Rough’em Up Tuck) and Cody Nance (84.75 points on Weird Kevin).
Marchi, the No. 5 bull rider in the world, earned 50 points to the world standings, while Aparecido picked up 40 points and Nance earned 30 points.
Gay’s ride on Smoke Wagon was his first qualified ride on the BFTS since Feb. 15 when he rode Mac-Nett’s Southern Wine for 85.25 points.
“He kind of hit his head and I thought he was going back to the left and he kind of had me behind,” Gay said. “I had to spur a little bit to get back to the middle.”
The 20-year-old was happy to gain some much-needed points for the world standings as he continues to try and fight his way back onto the BFTS full time after being cut in February.
The 80 points moves him from 36th in the world to 32nd.
“I really needed those points to get me closer to the Top 30 and I am closer now than I was an hour ago,” Gay said. “It means a lot. It really boosts my confidence up. I have been having hell this year trying to ride a bull, much less win a round. I am just happy it went my way.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
© 2015 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.