IDAHO INJURY NOTES & 15/15 BUCKING BATTLE PREVIEW (4-2-2014)
FORT WORTH, Texas – As previously reported earlier this week, J.B. Mauney is the highest ranked rider not in the draw this weekend for the DeWALT Guaranteed Tough Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.
Mauney is at home in Mooresville, N.C., after injuring his left riding wrist and is awaiting X-rays and an MRI later this week before consulting with Dr. Tandy Freeman. In the meantime, Mauney, who is officially listed as having a sprained left wrist has already opted out of both Nampa and the following week’s Built Ford Tough Series event in Billings, Mont.
“(Freeman) thinks there’s a ligament in there strained really bad or partially tore,” said Mauney, who returned last week after missing a week with a sprained ankle.
Mauney previously missed an event early in the season with a sprained left hand.
“He said it’s one of the major ones, so I don’t have a whole lot of grip with my hand, Mauney continued. “If it’s a tear and I don’t get it fixed, a year later I’ll have arthritis. He said it’s a pretty major one. It’s the one that holds the bones together.”
Mauney, who is the reigning World Champion, is currently ranked sixth in the world standings.
Claudio Crisostomo, 20th, Chase Outlaw, 25th, and Billy Robinson, 28th, are another trio of riders ranked in the Top 30 who are not competing this weekend.
Mauney will also miss the 15/15 Bucking Battle, which allows Robson Palermo, who is ranked 16th in the world standings, an opportunity to compete for double the round points as well as an additional score.
Joao Ricardo Vieira will headline the 15/15 in a matchup with two-time World Champion Bull Bushwacker. The fierce bovine is in the midst of his final season of competition before being retired at the conclusion of the World Finals, in Las Vegas.
It’s the second time in a month Vieira has gone head-to-head with Bushwacker.
He bucked off the most famous bull of all time in 2.2 seconds with a $1 million bonus on the line in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium after winning the Dr Pepper Iron Cowboy V.
Below are the other 15/15 matchups that can be seen Saturday afternoon on CBS at 3 p.m. ET:
Mike Lee, Stormy Wing and Jory Markiss are returning to action after missing last week because of injuries.
Willingham was originally listed as questionable, but he has confirmed his appearance on Wednesday morning.
Pistol Robinson has missed several BFTS events because of a sprained riding hand and had initially hoped to compete this week, but won’t return until next week as an alternate in the draw. Crisostomo also needed a week longer than planned after undergoing surgery for a left clavicle fracture. Billy Robinson also intends to return next week in Billings, while Outlaw is week-to-week with a sprained pelvis and strained groin.
Thad Newell, Jason Malone and Chad Vanamburg all won Touring Pro Division events, while J.W. Harris and Guytin Tsosie are competing with the second of three exemptions they received prior to the Fresno event. Kody Lostroh is competing with the second of five injury exemptions and would also have five World Champion exemptions if he’s not in the Top 30 by the conclusion of his first set of exemptions.
Because of mounting injuries, the alternate positions run deep this week. The list of riders competing as alternates includes Zane Lambert, Jordan Hupp, Markiss, Austin Meier, Lachlan Richardson and Jay Miller.
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