Leme Extends his World Lead with Three Events Remaining Until the 2020 PBR World Finals in Arlington
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Jose Vitor Leme may be making things look somewhat easy in his current pursuit of the 2020 World Championship, but the world No. 1 bull rider does not plan to slow down any time soon.
Leme was unable to win a fourth consecutive event Sunday at the PBR Wrangler Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, in Lincoln, Nebraska, although his sixth-place finish was enough to help get one small step closer to winning his first PBR World Championship.
The 2017 PBR World Finals event winner bounced back from a 2.86-second buckoff against Bread Basket in Round 2 to ride Oz for 89 points in the championship round inside Pinnacle Bank Arena and earn 26 world points.
“It is very important when you buck off one bull and you have a chance to get on another one,” Leme told Kate Harrison on CBS Sports Network. “I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to ride again and to get on another bull and make my work. I am so happy.”
Leme, who had missed the Des Moines, Iowa, event two weeks ago after being in contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19, began his weekend in Lincoln with 86 points on Gangster Time in Round 1.
The 24-year-old increased his lead on No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira, who finished in 15th place for two world points, to 569.09 points by earning 26 world points in Lincoln.
Leme told Harrison before the event started Sunday that the idea of attempting to clinch a world title before the Finals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 12 would be great.
However, he understands that it would be a difficult thing to accomplish, and he needs to approach things day by day.
“Well, I know this race is not going to be easy, but if I can win the world title before the Finals, it is going to be awesome,” Leme said. “I am going to try to ride my bulls, bull by bull, and make my work. If God wants, I will win.”
Leme is 40-for-55 (72.73%) with eight 90-point rides and seven event wins on the 2020 Unleash The Beast.
Daylon Swearingen moved up to No. 3 in the world standings with a 3-for-3, second-place finish. Swearingen, who is still 733.34 points behind Leme, capped his weekend with an 88-point ride on SweetPro’s Bruiser that ended with him flipping over in midair and then having his left shoulder stepped on.
“That was big. I didn’t pick that bull the last time I had that opportunity,” Swearingen told RidePass host Colby Yates. “Today it was kind of cool. I had the bull I picked in the short round in Salt Lake (instead of Bruiser) today in the long round (Sky Harbor), and I was thankful to get on Bruiser. I didn’t quite finish him the way I wanted, but we are learning.”
Swearingen now has five Top-3 finishes this season on the premier series. If any of those events would have instead been victories, the 21-year-old would be a lot closer to Leme in the world title race.
Meanwhile, No. 4 Kaique Pacheco (-739.50) and No. 5 Jess Lockwood (-740) fell further behind Leme in the world title race this weekend.
Lockwood is also facing injury concerns after he missed Championship Sunday with a right shoulder injury he sustained when Night Shift bucked him off in 6.05 seconds during Round 1 on Saturday.
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Lockwood is doubtful for next weekend’s PBR Express Ranches Classic, presented by Bass Pro Shops, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
World No. 8 Cooper Davis won his first Unleash The Beast event of 2020 this weekend to cut the deficit between himself and Leme to 896.50 points
Leme has been the No. 1 bull rider in the world since Feb. 1, and he will look to continue his march toward a world title next week at the BOK Center in Tulsa.
Round 1 airs exclusively on RidePass beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET.
“(I need to) ride (my) bulls and keep focused on my bulls and make my work,” Leme said. “I just need to keep riding.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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