Alves Ties Shivers for Fifth-Most Qualified Rides in PBR History
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Three-time World Champion Silvano Alves has already cemented his status alongside two-time World Champion Chris Shivers as two of only six riders to win multiple world titles, but now the PBR legends are next to each other in another category.
Alves rode Red Dawn for 78.75 points on Saturday night during Round 1 of the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational, presented by Ariat, to tie Shivers for the fifth-most qualified rides (412) in PBR history.
“That is a lot, huh? It is hard to reach that number,” Alves said from his RV late Saturday night on the grounds of the Lazy E Arena in Oklahoma. “Only a couple of people can get to this number. Chris is a PBR legend. He is rank.”
Most Qualified Rides in PBR History
1. Guilherme Marchi (635)
2. J.B. Mauney (528)
3. Mike Lee (525)
4. Valdiron de Oliveira (429)
T5. Chris Shivers (412)
T5. Silvano Alves (412)
“I am very happy for tonight, because in the history of the PBR there have been some rank guys, legends. To be tied with him, and only a couple riders have passed 400 bulls in their PBR career, it is just a lot of emotion,” Alves said. “Every day my dream comes true. It is not just because of the world titles, but to break all of these other records. I say thank you to God, my family supporting me, my friends and my sponsors. This means a lot.”
Alves turned down the option of a re-ride Saturday, and he will head into Championship Sunday sitting in 13th place.
There were 14 qualified rides in Round 1.
The 32-year-old will take on Newsom (1-5, UTB) in Round 2 as he looks to gain sole possession of fifth place all time and earn career ride No. 413. Newsom previously bucked Alves off in 7.48 seconds last year in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for his only buckoff so far on the premier series.
Fans can see if Alves makes PBR history Sunday live on CBS Sports Network and RidePass at 3 p.m. ET.
Shivers reached 412 rides during his 15th and final PBR season, while Alves is currently in his 11th.
Two-time World Champion Justin McBride tipped his hat to Alves and Shivers during the CBS Sports Network broadcast Saturday night.
“Well, that is great company to be in for any rider, if they can ever reach any sort of record that ties them with Chris Shivers,” McBride told Craig Hummer. “That is one of the all-time greats of the PBR. (Chris Shivers) is the most exciting guy I have probably ever seen ride until Jose Vitor Leme came around.
“Two of the biggest. That is five gold buckles between Shivers and Silvano. That is pretty amazing stuff right there.”
The PBR Cooper Tires Invitational, presented by Ariat, is a closed-to-the-public event.
Alves picked up the 400th ride of his career last year in Houston by handling Dusty’s Revenge for 85.75 points.
“This is very special for me. 400 rides in my career is like one more victory for me.”
However, Alves’s 2019 season ended when he sustained a career-threatening injury in Springfield, Missouri, last September. Southern Style stepped on him during Round 2 of the PFIWestern.com Invitational, rupturing Alves’s kidney into “several pieces.”
Alves spent a week at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, and there was a significant possibility that he would never be able to ride again if doctors had to remove his kidney. Thankfully, doctors were able to save his kidney thanks to two different procedures.
“It was so hard because I had passed 400 bulls and I had a lot of confidence,” Alves said. “I was riding really well like a couple of years ago. A month later, the bull stepped on me and my career was almost over. I think about a lot of things in my head, but I have had faith in God.”
The 10-time PBR World Finals qualifier returned to competition this season with a 2-for-4 showing at the season-opener Monster Energy Buck Off at The Garden in New York. Alves then spiraled into a 6-for-22 rut, and his 30.77% riding percentage is the worst of his career.
He is ranked 49th in the world standings and is competing at the Lazy E Arena thanks to his World Champion exemptions.
Alves, who missed the event two weeks ago at the Lazy E Arena because of a death in his family back in Brazil, said his injury in Springfield is not a reason for his slow start to 2020, and he expects to be back inside the Top 35 very soon.
“I started the year really great, and sometimes this happens to bull riders,” Alves said. “I never put my head down. I just try to keep going and work on some stuff. I am thankful to be staying healthy and I will be back on the top again. I just need to keep going. In the PBR, a bull rider’s career is like an ocean. Sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down, but you need to keep your head up and keep focusing and chasing your dreams.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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