Mauney Continuing to Undergo Evaluation; OKC Draw Notes
By: Justin Felisko
January 18, 2017
J.B. Mauney will miss his second event after being injured at the season-opener in New York. Photo: Andy Watson / BullStockMedia.com
PUEBLO, Colo. – Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney will miss the Express Employment Professionals Invitational in Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday as he continues to undergo evaluation of his injured right hip.
Mauney continuing to undergo evaluation; OKC draw notes (1-18-17)
Mauney informed PBR.com Wednesday that he was set to undergo another MRI after previously having an MRI done on his pelvis last week.
“Headed to get another MRI,” Mauney said. “(The first MRI) was just on my pelvis. Today is hip with dye.”
So far the 30-year-old has yet to learn what exactly is going on with his injured hip since competing at the season opener in New York.
Mauney believes part of the issue may have to do with a groin strain – not to mention all of his prior hip injuries.
There is no timetable for his return.
Mauney is being replaced in the draw by Brant Atwood.
Atwood is one of 11 alternates competing in Oklahoma City.
Tanner Byrne (shoulder blade), Wallace de Oliveira (clavicle), Lachlan Richardson (bicep surgery), Aaron Roy (leg), Robson Palermo (knee), Jorge Valdiviezo (shoulder), and Fabiano Vieira (shoulder) are out because of injuries.
Vieira said tests results showed no significant damage on his left shoulder after it was jarred loose by Wicked Stick in Chicago.
“I did not have any injury to my shoulder,” Vieira said. “It is sore a little bit.”
Vieira said he plans on returning to competition in Sacramento.
Reese Cates is this week’s Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour event invite courtesy of his Ontario, California, victory.
Cates is 15th in the world standings and will take on Heavy Chevy (0-0, BFTS) in Round 1.
J.W. Harris is using one of his final two remaining injury exemptions, while Alexandre Cardozo is down to his final injury exemption.
Cardozo trails Atwood by 267.5 points for the last alternate spot. He is coming off a 3-for-4 eighth-place finish in Chicago.
The 26-year-old has drawn Bushwacked (1-0, BFTS).
Harris takes on Smooth Over (0-0, BFTS) in Round 1. The four-time PRCA champion is 202.5 points behind Atwood in the alternate rankings.
Matt Triplett, Brady Sims, Cody Heffernan, Kurt Shephard, Keyshawn Whitehorse, Dener Barbosa and Justin Paton are the other alternates competing in Oklahoma City.
Triplett and Sims are both in the Top 10 of the world standings a year after not qualifying for the World Finals. They both went 3-for-4 in Chicago.
Triplett takes on Golly Gee (0-0, BFTS), while Sims will look for 8 seconds aboard Battle Siren (0-0, BFTS).
World leader Jess Lockwood has drawn Rise & Shine (4-0, BFTS) in Round 1.
Oklahoma City will also feature the season debuts of 2016 World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Bruiser, as well as 2015 World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Long John, Pearl Harbor, Jared Allen’s Air Time and Stone Sober.
Round 1 is the first ABBI Classic Round of 2017.
As a reminder, based on the PBR rulebook, riders that placed 1-30 in the 2016 world standings are guaranteed eight BFTS events before being subject to the cutline, while riders ranked 31-35 are guaranteed five BFTS events before being subject to being cut.
Therefore, until the sixth event of the 2017 season (Kansas City, Missouri), all alternates for BFTS events will be based on the 2016 world standings point totals plus the 2017 world standing point totals following any riders with injury exemptions.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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