PUEBLO, Colo. – Turning down his re-ride option in the championship round of the BlueDEF Velocity Tour event in Ontario, California, was worth the risk for Kaique Pacheco on Saturday night and the gamble paid off.
Pacheco was the only rider to ride both of his bulls and his 2-for-2 performance granted him the victory inside the Citizens Bank Arena.
“I want to thank God first for everything he has done in my life,” Pacheco said with the help of Megan Bradford translating. “I am thankful for the opportunities. I am focused and concentrating on what I’m doing.”
The 20-year-old rode Rudolph for 63 points for the only ride in the 10-rider championship round. He was offered a re-ride, but decided to keep his points after discussing the situation with Marco Eguchi.
The decision ended up working out for Pacheco as the final five riders, including Round 1 winners Cooper Davis and Skyler Sims, all bucked off their respective bulls.
Davis nearly earned the victory on the final ride of the night before he bucked off KISS Animalize at the 7.63-second mark.
The 2013 PRCA Rookie of the Year and Sims tied for second place in the event average following their 89.5-point Round 1 rides on Colton and LL Cool J, respectively.
Omar Martinez (88.5 points on Game Over) placed fourth and Valdiron de Olivieira (88 points on Mr. Smith) finished in fifth-place.
There were a total of 17 qualified rides.
Pacheco covered Move Over for 86 points in the first round and entered the championship round sitting in sixth place prior to riding Rudolph.
Saturday is Pacheco’s first BlueDEF Velocity Tour win. He first started competing in the United States in 2013.
The Itatiba, Brazil, native made his Built Ford Tough Series debut at Last Cowboy Standing this past May.
He concluded 2014 47th in the world standings.
The BlueDEF Velocity Tour heads to Bakersfield, California, next Saturday.
“I’m happy to be performing well in what I like to do,” Pacheco concluded. “It is my passion to ride bulls.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko.
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