Alvidrez Leading Billings Event Average as he Looks for First Career Win on Championship Sunday
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Andrew Alvidrez spent the week with two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood in Volborg, Montana, and the 2020 Rookie of the Year contender now has the chance to win his first premier series event in the same city Lockwood did four years ago after posting the two highest scores of his career so far this weekend.
Alvidrez rode Losing My Religion for 87.5 points in Round 2 Saturday night at the PBR Ariat Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, 24 hours after setting a career high with 88.5 points on Big City Nights.
“It is nice, but the weekend ain’t over,” Alvidrez told RidePass host and five-time PBR World Finals qualifier Colby Yates. “We are never satisfied. We are never content. We are pushing forward. This is a marathon, not a sprint race. I am just enjoying the moment.”
Billings has turned into a hotly contested event, and Alvidrez will have to outride two World Champions who are a perfect 2-for-2 alongside him in 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis and Lockwood if he wants to win his first career event. Not to mention that red hot world leader Jose Vitor Leme is also a perfect 2-for-2 and looking to win a third consecutive event.
They are four of seven riders that have been flawless so far in Billings – Alvidrez (2-for-2, 176 points), Davis (2-for-2, 175.75 points), Leme (2-for-2, 175.75 points), Mason Taylor (2-for-2, 172.25 points), Lucas Divino (2-for-2, 171.5 points), Dakota Louis (2-for-2, 171.25 points) and Lockwood (2-for-2, 169.75 points).
Davis won Round 2 Saturday night with a 90-point ride aboard M.A.G.A.
Alvidrez arrived at Lockwood’s ranch Monday and spent the week training and working alongside the reigning champion and good friend Ezekiel Mitchell.
Along with getting on one practice bull, Alvidrez also appreciated being able to learn and observe the mental approach to the sport during the week that Lockwood has.
“I am constantly learning,” Alvidrez said. “I learned how mentally tough he is, and now I am applying it to my own training. Mental toughness is KEY to this sport.”
It is that kind of mental strength Alvidrez will be trying to channel Sunday as he goes for his long-desired first win.
Billings is turning into Alvidrez’s best event since he made his Unleash The Beast debut with a noteworthy second-place finish in Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 6-7.
The No. 28-ranked bull rider has drawn Space Force (14-4, UTB/METC) for Round 3.
Alvidrez has already earned 16.5 world points in Billings and is slowly pushing himself further ahead of the Top 35 cutline and closer to qualifying for his first PBR World Finals. Alvidrez began the second half in Bismarck, North Dakota, less than 19 points ahead of the cutline. He now leads No. 36 Dakota Louis by 40.16 points.
Fans can watch the conclusion of the event Sunday on CBS Sports Network at 6 p.m. ET and on RidePass beginning at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Alvidrez is currently fifth in the Rookie of the Year race, and is a good 171.34 points behind No. 1 rookie Cole Melancon. However, a win Sunday would net Alvidrez at least 100 points toward the standings and slash that deficit significantly.
Yates pegged Alvidrez as one of his leading contenders to win the Rookie of the Year title earlier this summer partially because of that mental strength Alvidrez values.
“Alvidrez is my favorite,” Yates said in August. “I just think he has the right attitude. Really. Being as young as he is, he is a step ahead of people mentally. He also can overcomplicate things. He is focused and he is driven. I hope he will continue to focus more on that laser-focusedness.”
Top 5 2020 Rookie of the Year Standings
Cole Melancon (302.5 points)
Mauricio Moreira (-80.67 points)
Alex Cerqueira (-124 points)
Joao Henrique Lucas (-151.59 points)
Andrew Alvidrez (-171.34 points)
MOREIRA QUESTIONABLE FOR SUNDAY
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Mauricio Moreira is questionable for Championship Sunday after injuring his neck attempting to ride Total Feeds Bushwacked in the 15/15 Bucking Battle.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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