Leme: Cooper Tires Expects to be on Top, but Still Has a Long Way to go
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – If there were fans allowed inside the Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Saloon at South Point Arena Friday night, Team Cooper Tires captain Jose Vitor Leme would probably be hearing MVP chants at this point.
Leme continued to put forth an absolute display of dominance at the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, as the No. 1 rider in the world went 2-for-2 to help Team Cooper Tires (4-0) defeat previously undefeated Team Las Vegas (3-1) 259.25-84.5 and clinch a playoff berth for Championship Weekend.
The 23-year-old is now 7-for-8 at the METC, and he has more qualified rides than Team Wrangler (6-for-24), Team Union Home Mortgage (6-for-24) and Team YETI (5-for-24).
“This victory is for sure very important for us,” Leme said. “It puts us in Sioux Falls, and also gives us a lot of confidence. This is the place we expected to be. I feel relieved and thankful for this position. Nothing more is finished yet, we have a long way there.”
Six-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey chipped in a qualified ride for Team Cooper Tires to give it the early lead by riding Short Pop for 85.25 points.
In a clash of two undefeated teams, it was a no-contest. Cooper Tires reiterated it is the best team in Division A, and Team Las Vegas mustered only one qualified ride when Garrett Smith rode Ol’ Boy for 84.5 points on the last ride of the game. Vegas hurt itself with two 7-second buckoffs in the first half.
The Monster Energy Team Challenge is the first time that Kimzey has gotten to know and truly interact with Leme outside of last year’s Global Cup USA event and Chad Berger’s Team Challenge in Bismarck, North Dakota.
“He’s a great guy and great captain,” Kimzey said. “Love the way he competes, and I am really happy to be on his team. What he is on TV is what you get. Super genuine guy.”
Leme first rode Blue Stone for 88 points in Round 1 before converting on Anthrax in Round 2 for 86 points.
“I just am very grateful,” Leme told Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network. “God put good bulls in my way. I am very happy for these guys helping me behind the chutes. To ride all of my bulls, I am very grateful about all of this.”
The two top riders in the PBR and PRCA have carried the weight of expectations that Team Cooper Tires is the team to beat just fine so far. The team has rattled off four consecutive wins with ease, and Cooper Tires has yet to trail in any game.
“Everybody wants that position,” Kimzey told Harrison. “It is a position we need to carry with pride, and I think all of the guys are sold out in that. We know that everybody looks at our team as the team to beat. As long as we can keep raising the bar for ourselves, I think it will all end up good.”
Team Cooper Tires can clinch the Division A title on Saturday night with a victory over No. 4 Team Wrangler (1-3) and a loss by Team Las Vegas against Team Can-Am.
Cooper Tires could also clinch the division if both Vegas and Cooper Tires win on Saturday, and if Cooper Tires were to have seven more qualified rides in the division standings compared to Team Las Vegas following each team’s game.
Team Cooper Tires has a total aggregate score – which is the first tiebreaker in the standings – of 1,103.25 points on 13 rides, compared to 604.5 points on seven rides for Team Las Vegas. A team can earn a maximum of six qualified rides in one game.
No. 3 Can-Am needs to win its final two games, and have Cooper Tires go 0-2, to have a chance at winning the division. Can-Am would also have to make up 409.25 points in the aggregate to win the tiebreaker.
Cooper Tires may not have it easy on Saturday night, as Team Wrangler has plenty at stake as well. Colten Jesse delivered his team a walk-off victory over Team YETI Friday night to keep its playoff hopes alive.
If Cooper Tires fails to wrap up the division against Team Wrangler, they will have to do so Sunday against whoever the No. 2 team in the division standings is following play on Saturday.
The division title is especially important for Cooper Tires. It would give the squad an automatic bye to the semifinals on July 11 during Championship Weekend in Sioux Falls vs. having to compete in the quarterfinals round on July 10.
The Monster Energy Team Challenge features 12 teams, and two Divisions (A & B). The Top 3 teams in each division, based upon win-loss record, will qualify for Championship Weekend and a single-elimination tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The No. 2 and No. 3 finishers in each division square off in the quarterfinals of Championship Weekend.
“Super excited about clinching the playoff berth,” Kimzey said. “Now looking forward to (getting) the bye.”
Professional Bull Riders – Team Challenge – Game 12
Las Vegas, NV, 2020
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Jose Vitor Leme, 88-86-174.00
2. Sage Kimzey, 85.25-0-85.25
3. Garrett Smith, 0-84.5-84.50
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0.00
Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0.00
Brady Portenier, 0-0-0.00
Stetson Wright, 0-0-0.00
Chase Dougherty, 0-0-0.00
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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