Eguchi Rises From the Shadows to Become Potential Secret Weapon for Arizona

By: Justin Felisko

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Arizona Ridge Riders knew they had a weapon waiting in the wings in 2018 World Finals event winner Marco Eguchi. But coaches Paulo Crimber and Colby Yates knew Eguchi was struggling to bounce back from a vicious wreck at the PBR Challenger Series event at Cowtown Coliseum on Aug. 14.

Eguchi had been attempting to win the event in Fort Worth, Texas, before Redline knocked him out in 6.27 seconds and separated his ribs.

The injury came only a week after he saw good friend Fernando Henrique Novais sustain injuries to his head and chest while competing in Kansas City.

Eguchi had spent the last month on the sidelines recovering from his injuries, and the Ridge Riders were patient with their veteran rider. Arizona was riding a strong hot streak in PBR Teams, and there was no rush to insert Eguchi, 33, into the lineup.

However, that time came this weekend with Arizona mired in a three-game losing streak, and boy did Eguchi step up in a big way.

Eguchi clinched Arizona (11-7, Freedom Fest 1-1) its 271.25-89.5 victory over the Missouri Thunder (9-9, Freedom Fest 1-1) with a season-high 91.5 points aboard Tested’s Viper.

 
“After Kansas City, I got a little confused because I bucked off three bulls there I should ride, and then I take a week off from the team and go to Fort Worth, and I got a pretty good knockout and stepped on,” Eguchi said. “And it has taken me a few weeks to heal. When the season started again for me, I had to get a little confidence, ride some more (practice) bulls, and that’s what’s happened during the last week. I feel good now. No pain.”

Crimber walked over to Eguchi following the victory and bowed down to his veteran.

“That was huge, and that’s the kind of Marco we can expect every time,” Crimber said. “That’s what we’ve been missing from Marco this year. I told him, ‘You need to stop worrying about the little things. Just go have fun and ride. Do what you do best.’”

Arizona is the first team to have two 90-point rides in the same game.

Luciano de Castro began the night with 90.5 points on Top Shelf, while Vitor Losnake notched the first ride of his Teams career via 89.25 points on War Cry.

Arizona strategically moved Castro out of the closer role and moved him to the front of the lineup to try to shake things up.

“I felt like Luciano was just a little (off) in his brain, being the last guy, and it’s been kind of downhill,” Crimber said. “I asked him, ‘Do you want to go first?’ and he said, ‘Yeah.’

“Now he’s confident, and that’s why I changed it. I put Marco to close because he wanted to close, and that worked out great. Vitor just showed what he can be. He was a little nervous with that deal, a little pressure from the big tour, but he’s going to be amazing.”

Arizona is only a game behind Carolina for the lead in the PBR Team Series standings heading into Championship Sunday at Freedom Fest.

The Ridge Riders begin the final day of competition against Nashville (5-13, Freedom Fest 1-1), attempting to earn a first-round bye for the 2022 PBR Team Series Championships in Las Vegas (Nov. 4-6) during the last three regular-season events.

One thing to keep an eye on will be who Arizona keeps on its protected roster in the coming weeks.

Arizona is getting close to activating Chase Dougherty (knee) and Mauricio Moreira (reconstructive hip surgery) from injured reserve. Whether it is a trade before the Oct. 4 trade deadline or riders being sent down to the practice squad, a roster crunch is coming. But Crimber believes Eguchi is proving he deserves to stay with the Ridge Riders as a protected rider.

“Marco, after this today, he’s going to be way, way up in our books,” Crimber said. “Because even before this, he didn’t have any good luck in the last games he went to. He got on this bull, actually, in Kansas City, and he hipped himself and bucked him off. We know how valuable he is for the team.

“We have so many good guys, and we have two guys coming back. It’s going to be a tough deal. But on the other hand, they all want to be on this team. Even if they go unprotected, I don’t think they’re going to want to go.”

SUNDAY GAME SCHEDULE (3 p.m. ET CBS Sports Network)

Arizona Ridge Riders (11-7, Freedom Fest 1-1) @ Nashville Stampede (5-13, Freedom Fest 1-1)
Missouri Thunder (9-9, Freedom Fest 1-1) @ Kansas City Outlaws (7-11, Freedom Fest 1-1)
Texas Rattlers (6-12, Freedom Fest 1-1) @ Austin Gamblers (10-8, Freedom Fest 0-2)
Carolina Cowboys (12-6, Freedom Fest 2-0) @ Oklahoma Freedom (10-8, Freedom Fest 2-0)*
*Winner will win Freedom Fest event title

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media

© 2022 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.