Jesse Wins First Career 15/15 Bucking Battle in Kansas City
By: Justin Felisko
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Colten Jesse has seen the fireworks that defending two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood and world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme have been setting off all season long, so the 22-year-old knows he needs to come through with his own big moments if he wants to add his name into the world title race.
Jesse won the first 15/15 Bucking Battle of his career Saturday night by riding Lil 2 Train for 89.5 points.
“I’m trying to take every opportunity I can, especially in these 15/15s, and it’s kind of been making it hard on myself,” Jesse said. “I’ve had three 15/15s this year. In Sacramento I was 7.5 (seconds), and I think last week in St. Louis I was 7.6 or something like that. It was just kind of frustrating. I didn’t really get to thinking about it and making it snowball, but I dang sure wasn’t thinking about it today, and just went in there and had some fun, and just had a good bull, and made a good ride. And here we are.”
Jesse was able to pick the brain of Lockwood, who previously rode Lil 2 Train for 91.75 points in New York, seeing as the two are rooming together this weekend with Brennon Eldred.
Lockwood essentially told Jesse Lil 2 Train was pretty strong, and Jesse then made sure to handle the rest of it, he said with a laugh.
“He’s a good bull,” Jesse said. “He’s always been good. He’s always looked good to me. I’ve seen a bunch of guys buck off him, and I’ve seen a handful of guys ride him. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think he was going to be right there to the left today and then go back right, but he looked left and went right. I don’t want to say it was easy, but it felt good. It felt good.”
The ride was Jesse’s first in five 15/15 Bucking Battles as well.
There were three other qualified rides in the 15/15 Bucking Battle – Aaron Kleier (89.25 points on Evil Intentions, 40 world points), Eduardo Aparecido (88.75 points on Air Assault, 35 world points) and Dener Barbosa (88.25 points on Cool Customer, 30 world points).
Kleier was an injury replacement for Matt Triplett in the 15/15 Bucking Battle after Triplett sustained a concussion in Round 1.
“I love getting in the 15/15,” Kleier said. “I wish I was in there every week. So I was glad to get the call to say I was in there. He just jumped out into my hand, and he felt good towards the end, opened up a little bit. Just felt good.”
Jesse earned 50 points toward the world standings to move up to No. 7 in the world standings. He trails world leader Jose Vitor Leme by 402.5 points heading into Round 2 of the Caterpillar Classic Sunday.
The Right Stuff bucked Leme off in 6.24 seconds in the 15/15 Bucking Battle.
Fans can watch Round 2 on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET and on RidePass at 2:45 p.m. ET.
Jesse was bucked off by Hurricane Party in 6.61 seconds in Round 1. He will look for a ride against Marquis Metal Works Gangster’s Wildside (21-4, UTB) in Round 2.
“I actually got a bull that Jess is partners on, Gangsters Wildside. So we kind of joked around about that earlier,” Jesse said.
The 22-year-old believes his first career 15/15 win can be the catalyst to get him back on track. He is only 3-for-14 in the last month of competition.
“Yeah, I feel like myself,” Jesse said. “I never felt like I was riding bad, it just wasn’t all there mentally. I don’t know. But I’m feeling really good. It’s not exactly how I wanted to get the win. Jose got hurt when he bucked off, and Jess got kind of banged up, so that’s not how a guy wants to win, but you take it how you can. And best wishes to those guys. I hope they’re alright. They both took pretty good shots. But heck, they’re both tough guys. We’re all tough guys up here.”
Lockwood aggravated a right knee injury and has a sore back, while Leme also was dealing with a sore back following the 15/15 Bucking Battle. Both riders expect to be good to go for Championship Sunday.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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