Mauney and Alves Ready for WCRA Semi-Finals Rodeo
By: Justin Felisko
November 17, 2018
J.B. Mauney and Silvano Alves are riding at the Lazy E Arena this weekend. Photos: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.
PUEBLO, Colo. – The two richest bull riders in history put into context why they, and three other PBR veteran bull riders, will be packing up their bull ropes and hitting the road one week since the 2018 PBR World Finals came to a conclusion.
Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney and three-time World Champion Silvano Alves are two of five veteran PBR bull riders (Mauney, Alves, Fabiano Vieira, Joao Ricardo Vieira and Claudio Montanha Jr.) slated to compete Sunday at the WCRA $500,000 Semi-Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
“Money. It pays,” Mauney said of his decision to head to central Oklahoma. “I am all about winning money. That is the name of the game, I guess.”
Alves added, “I do not know much about the WCRA. I only have a couple of points in their standings. They do not have a World Champion. But for money, and to stay in shape, this is a good idea. You can win good money.”
The format for the WCRA $500,000 Semi-Finals at Lazy E Arena features a progressive bull riding round on Saturday and a final round (Sunday).
The final round has a $35,000 payout, while the progressive features $20,000.
The Top 8 riders from the WCRA leaderboard (standings) have already qualified for the final round. That is why Alves, Mauney, Fabiano Vieira, Joao Ricardo Vieira and Montanha Jr. are riding on Sunday.
The other three riders that already earned a final round berth include Jason Mara – No. 5 in PBR Australia’s standings – Wyatt Rogers and Chance Schott.
There are 15 riders entered in the progressive rounds on Saturday. Brennon Eldred is the only Top 35 PBR rider competing in the progressive. Eight riders will advance to Sunday’s final round.
Fans can watch the WCRA $500,000 Semi-Finals Rodeo on RidePass at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, the 16 bull riders will be split into Pool A and Pool B.
The Top 3 riders from each pool will advance to the WCRA Windy City Roundup – a $1 million rodeo – on Jan. 11 at Allstate Arena in Chicago.
The Top-2 riders with the highest score that failed to advance out of pool play will advance to the Windy City Roundup as wild cards.
VIEIRA READY TO ROLL
Fabiano Vieira confirmed on Friday that he will be competing in Guthrie this weekend after sustaining a concussion during Round 4 of the PBR World Finals when he was bucked off by Capone in 7.47 seconds.
The 36-year-old thanked his fans on social media for their support as well this week.
Vieira went 0-for-4 at the World Finals, but three of the buckoffs came at 6.2 seconds or later.
The Perola, Brazil, bull rider said his reasoning for competing in Guthrie echoes the sentiments of Alves and Mauney.
“This is a $500,000 rodeo,” Vieira said. “It is good because this is good money. I want to be a champion here because there are not many (PBR) events until 2019.”
WCRA Virtual Qualifying
The PBR riders earned draw spots in Guthrie through the WCRA’s virtual qualifying system.
The WCRA uses a virtual qualifying system where athletes can self-nominate themselves to earn points toward the WCRA leaderboard.
The WCRA formula ranks rodeos/events using objective data to break the entire sport down into four divisions. Total payout is the greatest weighing factor that places each rodeo/event into each division.
Division 4 (Total payout $0-14,999 Nomination Fee – $50)
Division 3 (Total payout $15,000-$49,000 Nomination Fee – $100)
Division 2 (Total payout $50,000-$249,000 Nomination Fee – $150)
Division 1 (Total payout $250,000 or higher Nomination Fee –$200)
Once an athlete has nominated a rodeo/event, points will be awarded if/when the athlete places at the rodeo/event and earns money. Points are weighted differently for each division, and are scaled for go rounds and final rounds/aggregates.
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