By the Numbers: Brady Fielder Gets Win No. 1 in Manchester
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – Seeing a veteran like 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco return to action and pick things up where he left them is a kind reminder of how talented some of the tour’s established veterans truly are.
Furthering the memo, 33-year-old Eduardo Aparecido (who’s currently ranked No. 5 in the world and easily considered one of the industry’s hottest riders dating back to this past summer during the 5-on-5 PBR Camping World Team Series) went on to share the Round 1 spotlight with trending youngster Felipe Furlan en route to capturing his second Top 8 finish of the season and third inside the Top 13, courtesy of his eighth-place exit Saturday night.
Not to skip over the premier series’ No. 2 ranked rider, by any means, who turned in his third Top 6 performance in three events attended (including a runner-up finish in St. Louis, Missouri, and a sixth-place result in Johnstown, Pennsylvania).
That man goes by the name of Alan de Souza.
And since capping off an extremely successful 2023 campaign, highlighted by winning the 2023 Challenger Series Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, just two months ago, the 30-year-old cowboy isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
But with 24-year-old Brady Fielder becoming the third different rider this season to, respectively, capture their career-first premier series event title (joining Caden Bunch and Cassio Dias, whom also earned his second-ever win in back-to-back fashion), riders around the circuit are getting their first one out the way.
No. 3 Cody Jesus nearly made it a unique 4-for-4, finishing just 3.25 points short of capturing a career-first win of his own back in Johnstown.
Now just 194.17 points back of No. 1 Dias, Fielder has been on fire lately.
Since producing a 2-for-3 record with the Texas Rattlers during the 2023 PBR Camping World Teams Championship inside T-Mobile Arena, Fielder has gone 8-for-13 over the span of two months, including an event-winning, 4-for-5 showcase during the PBR Australia Grand Finals in early November and now 4-for-8 record on Unleash The Beast.
More importantly, it’s apparent that he’s having fun.
Was witnessing and contributing to a second-straight successful season under the watchful eye of Cody Lambert the spark that the Australian needed?
Or, after seeing flashes from the international talent for the past few years, are fans witnessing another rising superstar take the next big step in his career within the states as the sport continues to attract the best bull riders in the world?
He’s riding a wave of momentum right now either way, and as the tour prepares to break for the holiday weekend, he’ll attempt to remain locked in following the 11-day break when action resumes Dec. 29-30 in Albany, New York.
With Unleash The Beast wrapping up its fourth event of the season last weekend in Manchester, New Hampshire, we’re taking a quick look back at some of the numerical takeaways from PBR Manchester in this week’s By the Numbers!
No. 4 Gets No. 1: When PBR Manchester concluded on Saturday night, Brady Fielder not only picked up his career-first UTB victory, but surged to the No. 4 spot within the Unleash The Beast World Championship standings courtesy of his perfect 3-for-3 slate inside SNHU Arena as the premier series continued its trek throughout the northeast this past weekend. One of just three riders to post flawless performances, Fielder started the productive out with an 83-point conversion atop Tucker before doubling down on Saturday night in Round 2. Posting an 86.25-point score dancing with Air Shift, he punched a ticket to his first short round of the season. Eventually opting into a head-to-head showdown with UTZ BesTex Smokestack after selecting the standout bovine in the bull draft, Fielder wouldn’t settle for anything but greatness in the final go.
UTZ x2: For every ride score, there’s always going to be a bull score to go along with it. Dancing with the likes of Smokestack, however, provides a bit more of a challenge. (Any of the UTZ talents, really). But with challenge comes opportunity, and that’s exactly what Fielder was seeking when he decided to draw the animal athlete. Willing his way to an event title courtesy of a career-high-tying 91-point conversion, the 24-year-old Australian teamed up with the prized bovine to seal the deal. But it was another of stock contractor Blake Sharp’s bulls that made the crowd sit up in their seats. Scored an event-high 45.75 points after making quick work of Lucas Divino (dispatched in a brief 2.62 seconds), it was UTZ BesTex Legend who was crowned the YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Event en route to improving his rank to No. 3 in the world.
Event No. 1, Finished No. 2: If last weekend’s showcase in Manchester officially marked the “Return of the Ice Man,” then fans are in for quite the treat when the talented veteran gets warmed up (continues to cool down, really) as the season slate progresses. Producing a perfect 3-for-3 status during his 2024 UTB debut, the 2018 World Champion immediately skyrocketed to the No. 10 rank despite missing the first three events of the season with lingering injuries. Participating in his first event since September and recording his first conversion atop a bovine since April earlier this year (during the final weeks of the 2023 premier series campaign), Kaique Pacheco quickly reminded fans around the world of just how talented he is. Getting things started with Squealin’ Cat during the opening round, he logged an 84.25-point score to start the season with a bang. Keeping the streak intact in Round 2, Pacheco lasted the requisite 8 dancing with One Man Gang to earn a spot in the short go. Completing the perfect slate in his return, Pacheco and Lapua teamed up for an 85.75-point score in Round 3, thus positioning the veteran for a second-place finish in his 2024 debut. If he can stay healthy and return to the PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast this season, he has to be considered amongst the favorites after exploding back onto the scene in Manchester.
9-for-10: A pair of World Champions in Pacheco and Jose Vitor Leme are technically tied with matching flawless (100%) riding percentages, albeit through just three and four outs so far, respectively. But just 10% lower at the 9-for-10 mark comes a veteran in Alan de Souza who’s only been dispatched one time in 10 outs. Pacing the circuit among riders who have attempted 10 or more rides during the 2024 campaign, the talented Brazilian added another three conversions last weekend in Manchester as one of just three cowboys to stay perfect throughout. With his high score on the season an 88.5-point qualified ride paired against UTZ BesTex Legend representing just one of two rides to surpass the 87-point mark, the veteran hasn’t been extremely flashy, but he’s easily been one of the most consistent riders on tour throughout the opening month of action. Chipping in 84.25, 83 and 85.25-point rides last weekend, the scores themselves aren’t popping off the daysheet, but his No. 2 rank and record this season sure are.
89: Fans of the electric 5-on-5 series, specifically Missouri Thunder fans, may have heard of one Felipe Furlan, but for any who just zoom into UTB action, he’s certainly making quite the introduction! Riding in just the past two events, turning in twelfth and fourth-place finishes, respectively, the talented Brazilian is set to enter Albany with the No. 15 rank and a respectable 4-for-7 record on the season. Posting a 2-for-3 slate in Manchester, including the second-best score of the event, an 89-point journey atop Bandito Bug in the short go, his 62 UTB points for the Top 5 finish propelled him above the cut line, which is set to come into play when the tour resumes in late December. Furlan also splashed in the opening round courtesy of an 86.25-point conversion aboard Sugar Smack.
PBR fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels for the latest news, rider features and beyond throughout the holiday weekend!
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