KC Draw: Lockwood Out with Knee Injuries; Four Riders to Debut

PUEBLO, Colo. – Reigning PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood made a valiant effort to try and ride in the championship round last week after a rough hang-up aboard Blue Gangster in Round 2 of the Anaheim Invitational.

One week later and Lockwood is going to play it safe and take some time off.

Lockwood confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the Caterpillar Classic in Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday because of injuries to both his knees in Anaheim.

“Tandy (Freeman) said (I have) small tears/sprained both MCL’s I believe,” Lockwood said. “They feel really awesome, but I want to have them 100 percent rather than try to show how tough I can be and ride with them messed up and hurt myself even more.”

Lockwood is 15^th in the world standings and may not return until the WinStar World Casino & Resort Iron Cowboy, powered by Kawasaki, on Feb. 24.

The 20-year-old has been going to physical therapy every day and icing his knees at home in Volborg, Montana.

Meanwhile, two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney (right groin/right shoulder) and Stormy Wing (knee) are returning to competition in Kansas City.

Mauney has missed the last four events and will face Little Texas (1-0, PBR UTB) in Round 1.

Wing has missed two weeks with his knee injury and has drawn Concealed Carry (0-0, PBR UTB).

The Dalhart, Texas, cowboy is one of four riders from last year’s Top 30 that are currently below the Top 35 of the world standings.

As a reminder, riders that placed 1-30 in the 2017 world standings are guaranteed eight events before being subject to the cutline.

No. 39 Emilio Resende, No. 64 Marco Eguchi and No. 117 Mason Lowe have three weeks left to try and crack the Top 35 before facing relegation to the Velocity Tour. Wing still has six events including Kansas City.

There are four riders making their season-debuts in Kansas City – No. 24 Keyshawn Whitehorse, No. 27 Lindomar Lino, No. 28 Chase Robbins and No. 36 Colten Jesse.

Robbins is making his premier series debut after competing primarily in the PRCA in prior seasons. The 22-year-old went 10-for-15 on the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour with three runner-up finishes and earned 180 world points and a spot on the Unleash The Beast.

The Marsing, Idaho, bull rider is a third generation cowboy. He first got on bulls at 10 years old and his father, Cory, used to ride bulls, while his grandfather owned cattle in Idaho. In 2013, Robbins rode at the National High School Finals Rodeo, and he also was a wrestler and football player for Marsing High School.

Robbins has drawn Ol’ Boy (1-0, PBR UTB) for Round 1.

Jesse, who won last weekend’s Velocity Tour event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is one of three alternate riders alongside Wallace de Oliveira and Juan Carlos Contreras.

He and Oliveira are tied for 36^th in the world standings, but are only 15 points behind No. 35 Edgar Durazo.

Jesse takes on Medicine Man (0-0, PBR UTB) in Round 1, and Oliveira has a matchup against Sky Harbor (1-0, PBR UTB).

Contreras is tied for 39^th in the world and is 25 points behind Durazo. The 27-year-old has drawn Big Black (3-0, PBR UTB).

World leader Dener Barbosa will look for his PBR-leading 17^th ride of the year when he squares off against Night Sweats (2-0, PBR UBT).

Also not competing in Kansas City is Ryan Dirteater (fractured ribs), Gage Gay (reconstructive knee surgery), Matt Triplett (reconstructive shoulder surgery), Chase Outlaw (reconstructive shoulder surgery) and Shane Proctor (personal decision).