Davis Among Three Top-10 Riders Questionable for Manchester
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis chipped off another 20 points from world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme in the 2021 world title race in Greensboro, North Carolina, but the effort also resulted in a strained right groin.
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, the No. 3-ranked bull rider in the world strained his groin during his 87-point ride on Lost Highway in Round 2 Sunday at the PBR Union Home Mortgage Invitational at Greensboro Coliseum.
Davis did not let the injury hold him out off of the championship round, but Bentley bucked him off in 3.95 seconds.
The Jasper, Texas, native is 789 points behind Leme ahead of next week’s PBR Monster Energy Invitational in Manchester, New Hampshire.
There are two regular-season Unleash The Beast events remaining before the 2021 PBR World Finals begins on Nov. 3 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Davis was not the only Top-10 rider to sustain an injury Sunday who is listed as questionable by Freeman for Manchester.
No. 7 Mauricio Moreira, who won the 15/15 Bucking Battle Saturday night with 90.75 points on I’m Legit Too, and No. 9 Dalton Kasel were each diagnosed with hip injuries in Round 2. Moreira sustained his injury during his 4.75-second buckoff against Mr. Nasty, while Kasel was hurt attempting to ride Dirty Sancho (7.24 seconds).
MELANCON’S STRUGGLES GET WORSE
Cole Melancon is mired in a streak of 29 consecutive buckoffs. Now the No. 31 ranked bull rider in the world has to deal with a completely torn MCL, as well as a partially torn PCL, in his left knee after getting injured during his 3.52-second buckoff against Dixieland Delight Sunday with less than a month until the PBR World Finals.
According to Freeman, Melancon is questionable for Manchester.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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