2020 Season Rewind: Vieira’s Top 5 Rides

By: Darci Miller

PUEBLO, Colo. – Joao Ricardo Vieira is proving to everybody that age is just a number.

At 35 years old, the 2013 Rookie of the Year hasn’t missed a beat, and continues to challenge the young guns in the race for a World Championship.

In 2019, Vieira finished the season ranked No. 4 in the world standings, though his accomplishments went beyond the PBR. He won the bull riding at The American, as well as the WCRA Title Town Stampede in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Tune in on RidePass at 8 p.m. ET to watch the final round of the Title Town Stampede for FREE.

In 2020, with the PBR on hiatus due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, Vieira is currently ranked No. 3 in the world with one event win and one 15/15 Bucking Battle win under his belt.

Read on to relive Vieira’s Top 5 highest-scoring rides of 2020.

1. 92 points on Foghorn Leghorn – Sacramento, California, 15/15 Bucking Battle

 
Vieira is known for dominating in the Golden State; in 2019, he went a perfect 10-for-10 with two event wins. While he was unable to keep up his perfect streak in 2020, Mr. California lived up to his name with the 15/15 Bucking Battle win in Sacramento in January. Vieira rode Foghorn Leghorn for 92 points, retaking the world No. 1 ranking in the process.

T2. 90.25 points on M.A.G.A. – Iron Cowboy, Round 2

 
Iron Cowboy – in California, naturally – is Vieira’s bread-and-butter event. He’s won a record three Iron Cowboy titles, including one during his perfect streak in 2019. He fell just short in 2020, finishing second overall behind Cole Melancon, but went 3-for-5 with a huge 90.25-point ride on M.A.G.A. in Round 2, taking over the world No. 1 ranking yet again.

T2. 90.25 points on Apper’s Mind Freak – Manchester, New Hampshire, Round 2

 
Vieira is more than capable of making the 8 seconds outside of California as well. He went 3-for-3 at the Manchester Invitational to finish in third-place overall behind event winner Jess Lockwood, and his 90.25-point ride on Apper’s Mind Freak had him just .25 points behind Lockwood’s Round 2 win.

4. 89.5 points on Crossover – Little Rock, Arkansas, Round 1

 
Vieira was only in Little Rock for one round of competition, departing after Round 1 to compete in The American in Arlington, Texas. But he made Round 1 count in a big, big way; not only did his 89.5-point ride on Crossover win the round, it was good enough to earn him a third-place overall finish in the event. Not bad for 8 seconds of work!

5. 89.25 points on Western Skies – New York City, Round 1

 
After finishing 2019 ranked No. 4 in the world, Vieira began 2020 with one of the best starts of his career. He kicked off his season in New York City with an 89.25-point ride aboard Western Skies in Round 1, and went on to go 3-for-3 for the season-opening event win. The victory also propelled him to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2015, setting him up as a real contender for the 2020 world title.

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