2023 Unleash the Beast Game Notes: New Orleans
By: Andrew Hatfield
2023 UNLEASH THE BEAST GAME NOTES: NEW ORLEANS
As PBR’s Unleash The Beast bucks into New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center March 17-18 during the 16th event of the 2023 Unleash The Beast campaign, PBR.com is highlighting some of the series’ latest winners, top competitors and beyond as Unleash The Beast rages on!
GETTING ICY: Veteran Kaique Pacheco returned to the win column for his second event win of the 2023 season last weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the only rider to go a perfect 3-for-3, and rose to No. 2 in the standings, now just 71.5 points behind No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme. The “Ice Man” began the weekend with an 89-point ride atop Alter Ego in Round 1 and followed that up by hanging onto Midnight Flyer for 81 points in Round 2. Seeded third headed into the championship round, Pacheco chose to tango with Moonlight Party for his final dance, and the choice paid off, as he lasted the 8 for 89 points and secured his first victory since winning in Duluth, Georgia, in January. The Brazilian has lived up to his nickname over the past month, as he has posted at least one qualified ride in each of the past five events, while his 55% riding percentage is third-best on tour. Furthermore, he stays cold as ice when the lights are the brightest, as he is currently 6-for-9 in championship rounds this season, the most rides in the final round on tour and the sixth-highest riding percentage. Pacheco is set to face Kodiac in Round 1 on Friday
PAST SUCCESS: When PBR’s premier series was last in New Orleans in 2010, Pistol Robinson delivered a perfect 3-for-3 performance to win the event, starting the weekend with an 86.75-point ride atop Iron Broke in Round 1. In Round 2, the Texan avoided the bite of Alligator Chomp and lasted the 8 for 86 points before securing the victory with an 89-point romp atop Bad Moon in the championship round. The rest of the Top 5 was star-studded, with three-time PBR World Finals event winner Robson Palermo in second, two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers in third and 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi in fifth.
For all of the statistics, stories and standings heading into this weekend’s PBR Union Mortgage Invitational, be sure to check out this week’s Game Notes and stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels!
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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