#InCaseYouMissedIt: The Leme Freight Train Just Keeps Rolling, Lockwood Returns to Action and More

By: Darci Miller

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Jose Vitor Leme won the event this weekend. Plus, Jess Lockwood made his long-awaited return to competition, the Top 3 World Champion Bull contenders came out swinging, and more. Miss a moment of the action this weekend? Here’s what happened around the PBR.

On the Unleash The Beast…

 
So this Jose Vitor Leme guy is pretty good, huh? Leme went 4-for-4 to win the PBR Ariat Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, in Billings, Montana – his third event win in a row, and seventh overall this season.

But the plain old event win wasn’t enough! Leme also won the 15/15 Bucking Battle with a 94.25-point ride on Smooth Operator. (Yes, you read that correctly. Smooth Operator. 94.25 points.)

Now that two-time and reigning PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood is back in action, though, it’s going to be an all-out race to the world title.

It was also a big weekend for the YETI World Champion Bull race, as No. 1 Chiseled, No. 2 Smooth Operator and No. 3 Hocus Pocus each increased their World Champion Bull average.

Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Alvidrez finished a career-best second overall in Billings, and led the field heading into the final day of competition.

 
Keyshawn Whitehorse won Round 1, his second round win of the season, and is now ranked securely inside the Top 35 of the world standings.

Montana cowboys Dakota Louis and Jake Lockwood returned to their home state to battle it out and avoid the cutline as they both attempt to qualify for their first PBR World Finals.

Dener Barbosa’s return to competition in the United States didn’t go as planned, as he sustained a concussion and a broken jaw and will undergo surgery.

Through the lens with Andy Watson and BullStockMedia

Check out the best photos from day one, day two and day three in Billings.

Social spotlight

When he’s not winning PBR events, he’s casually tearing up the soccer field.

 

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Segunda feira é dia de futebol dos Cowboys pra começar a semana no pique ⚽️🏃🏻 Fotos: @andresilvaphoto

A post shared by José Vitor Leme Batista (@josevitorleme) on Sep 7, 2020 at 2:56pm PDT

Fabiano Vieira’s recovery continues!

 

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I still have a lot of faith in God, and this is what makes me recover faster every day. I just have to thank this team @fitnwisemotosportsmed that has been working with me for 10 years and they are not measuring efforts so that I will soon be 100% recovered. I feel very blessed by God for always putting good people and professionals in my path. @favor4fabiano @rockstarenergy @teamcoopertire @ariatinternational @cactusropes @resistol1927 @vieiraranchtexas @jim_bui @coach_esco01

A post shared by Fabiano Vieira (@fvieirapbr) on Sep 8, 2020 at 3:00pm PDT

The race is officially on.

 

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Let the race start again! See you all in Billings MT tonight @borderpatrol @wrangler @pneudart @pulseequine @yeti @vermeerag @motivewellness @roxoroffroad @monsterenergy @mccormicknorthamerica

A post shared by Jess Lockwood (@jesslockwood7) on Sep 11, 2020 at 2:17pm PDT

Looking ahead

The Unleash The Beast next heads to Des Moines, Iowa, for the PBR Lucas Oil Invitational on Sept. 19-20 (RidePass on Sept. 19 at 7:45 p.m. ET and Sept. 20 at 2:45 p.m. ET; CBS Sports Network on Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. ET).

Stay tuned to PBR.com for the latest information and updates on where to catch the action in the coming weeks.

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