Vieira Wins Round 1 in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Veteran Brazilian PBR bull rider Joao Ricardo Vieira broke his slump and got the weekend started with a win in Round 1 of the First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational Friday night in front of a sold out crowd at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

Vieira rode Bad Moon Rising for 87.75 points on his way to his third Built Ford Tough Series round win of the season. Previously, Vieira had been in a 1-for-7 slump before arriving in Sioux Falls. For the win, Vieira netted 100 points toward the world standings and $3,716.

Canadian Dakota Buttar tied for second place in Round 1 after riding American Sniper for 86.5 points. It was a rebound for Buttar, who did not record a ride last weekend in Glendale, Arizona. The performance helped him secure 55 points toward the world standings along with $2,511.

Australian Troy Wilkinson tied with Buttar for second place after his own 86.5-point trip aboard Call the Law. The ride was Wilkinson’s third since arriving back to the BFTS this season and it earned him his own share of 55 points toward the world standings along with a $2,511 paycheck.

Robson Aragao finished in fourth place after riding Smooth Over for 84.5 points Friday night. Aragao, who is competing in Sioux Falls as the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour invite after his win in Bangor, Maine, picked up 40 points toward the world standings and $1,436.

Matt Triplett rounded out the Top 5 after his 82.25-point ride on Black Sugar. For his efforts, Triplett took home 30 world points and $986.

The Top 35 bull riders in the world will return to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Saturday night for Round 2 of the First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational. Each rider will take on a second bull in Round 2 as they jockey for position heading into Championship Sunday.

Immediately following Round 2, the Top 15 bull riders in the PBR world standings will take on the Top 15 bulls in the fourth 15/15 Bucking Battle of the season. This special round of competition will offer additional points toward the world standings, and an extra cash prize for the winner.

Round 2 will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on PBR LIVE and the PBR LIVE app. CBS will broadcast the 15/15 Bucking Battle at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday April 2.

PBR Digital Editor Kristian Limas contributed to this report

Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series
First PREMIER Bank PREMIER Bankcard Invitational
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 87.75-0-0-0-87.75-100 Points.
2. Dakota Buttar, 86.5-0-0-0-86.50-55 Points.
(tie). Troy Wilkinson, 86.5-0-0-0-86.50-55 Points.
4. Robson Aragao, 84.5-0-0-0-84.50-40 Points.
5. Matt Triplett, 82.25-0-0-0-82.25-30 Points.
6. Kaique Pacheco, 69-0-0-0-69.00-15 Points.
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Jess Lockwood, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Chase Outlaw, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mason Lowe, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cooper Davis, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Marco Antonio Eguchi, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Stormy Wing, 0-0-0-0-0.00
J.B. Mauney, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0-0-0.00
Guilherme Marchi, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Mike Lee, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Koal Livingston, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Rodeo Tyler, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Reese Cates, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Luis Blanco, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Marcilio, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Emilio Resende, 0-0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Jones, 0-0-0-0-0.00