Glendale Draw: Lockwood Brings 1,092.5-point Lead Atop World Standings
By: Justin Felisko
January 18, 2019
World No. 1 Jess Lockwood has a 1,092.5-point lead over No. 2 Chase Outlaw. Photo: Christopher Thompson/BullStockMedia.
GLENDALE, Ariz. – World No. 1 Jess Lockwood heads into Glendale, Arizona, in unusual territory when it comes to being atop the world standings.
Lockwood brings a 1,092.5-point lead over No. 2 Chase Outlaw into the Ak-Chin Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, and has used back-to-back victories to begin the 2019 premier series to storm his way to the top ranking.
The 21-year-old has never had this big of a lead in his career.
In fact, no bull rider in the current points system has ever had this large of a lead over the No. 2 rider through the first two events of the season.
Lockwood has been nearly flawless in 2019, winning the first two premier series events of the season and going 8-for-8 on the PBR’s Unleash The Beast. Overall, Lockwood is 10-for-13 at all levels of competition.
The Volborg, Montana, rider knows it is a long season and plenty of things can change in an instant, but he did admit at the Denver PBR Chute Out Velocity Tour event at the National Western Stock Show this week that everything seems to be clicking like never before.
Lockwood can even sense himself riding with a different level of confidence.
“Like I have said, I have rode really, really good before, like in 2017, but I have never ridden this good,” Lockwood said Tuesday afternoon. “Honestly, it feels like I get in there and I feel like if I just nod my head that I have the confidence right now that there is not a bull out there that can buck me off.”
Lockwood won Round 1 in Denver with an 89.5-point ride on Hooky and finished 2-for-3 overall for 55 world points. He was bucked off by Smooth Wreck in 2.12 seconds in the championship round.
“That is what the hard work goes into getting a big score like that,” Lockwood said. “I love it.”
Lockwood had ridden 10 consecutive bulls at all levels before his buckoff.
Lockwood will take on Blown Fuse (3-0, UTB) in Round 1.
Lockwood and 35 other riders head to Gila River Arena this weekend for the third tour stop of the Unleash The Beast.
It will certainly be an emotional weekend for the group following the passing of fellow rider Mason Lowe.
“Mason was so funny,” Lockwood said this week when reflecting about Lowe. “He’d always like to give people crap, but he let them know at the same time he was kidding. Mason, the shit he would say, most people aren’t that quick and witty.
“If Mason was here, and it was his choice, he would have wanted you to ride,” Lockwood said. “All of us.”
There will be six alternate riders competing in Glendale: Rubens Barbosa, Lonnie West, Emilio Resende, Lucas Divino, Paulo Lima, Ezekiel Mitchell and Jared Parsonage.
They are replacing Kaique Pacheco (left knee), Fabiano Vieira (shoulder), Tanner Byrne (travel issues), Dener Barbosa (reconstructive shoulder surgery), Guilherme Marchi (retirement), Valdiron de Oliveira (retirement) and Lachlan Richardson (ankle).
No. 6 Cannon Cravens is out for Glendale because of his right calf/leg injury. He would have been competing as an alternate.
Juan Carlos Contreras is Glendale as a Hispanic invite.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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