Leme Remains Dominant, Looks to Stay Healthy in Chasing Third Gold Buckle

By: James Youness

PUEBLO, Colo. – Seemingly unstoppable since making his 2023 Unleash The Beast debut a mere eight days ago, two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme secured his second-straight event title Saturday night via a perfect 3-for-3 showcase in the Windy City.

Building on his season-opening victory last weekend in New York City at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden, the 25-year-old doubled downed in another of the tour’s biggest stops of the year by winning the PBR Tractor Supply Co. Invitational in Chicago.

Picking up an ever-important 134 Unleash The Beast points for his effort, Leme currently holds the No. 2 rank in the chase to be crowned the 2023 World Champion.

Leme began his flawless weekend Friday evening matched against Reinstate Hank in Round 1. Handling his opponent with ease, the Brazilian was scored a modest 83.5 points, partly in due to the animal athlete’s 40.75-point bull score, the lowest bull score Leme’s been associated with since April of last year.

After finishing tied for 14th Friday, Leme, alongside his animal athletes, kicked it up a notch Saturday. Beginning the second night of competition by championing Knuckle Head, the veteran reminded fans why he’s amongst the best bull riders in the world.

Surpassing the challenge with flying colors, en route to earning a round-best 87 points, Leme displayed his ability to center his body despite his opponent’s best efforts to rid the rider.

“He’s a young bull, but he has a lot of skills,” Leme shared with CBS Sports Network following his out. “He was trying to buck me off the whole time, but I was happy to ride him and make some points and go to the championship round in a good spot.”

Punching his ticket to the short round indeed, Leme received the second choice in the bull draft and opted into another matchup with Cliff Hanger after besting the athlete for 92 points last weekend inside Madison Square Garden.

With the amount of ferocious waves the Cord McCoy/Pioneer Bulls talent sent Leme’s way, it’s almost as if the bull remembered the cowboy from last weekend, as Leme had his word cut out this time around.

Courtesy of the electric effort his bovine counterpart provided Saturday night, Leme weathered the dramatic storm, completing his 8-second goal while flying to the dirt with bull rope in hand.

With video review confirming the two-time champion reached the requisite mark, Allstate Arena erupted with applause as the living legend was awarded 88.25 points, passing Kaique Pacheco with the last-second effort.

“Well, this trip was way harder than last time, but I’m just so thankful for God to give another win to me,” Leme shared on the CBS Spors Network broadcast. “I dreamed about this back-to-back two weeks ago, now God has given me this blessing and I’m so happy about it.”

The rider was far from content when chatting with CBS Sports Network’s Kate Harrison at the end of the weekend, knowing that if he stays healthy, he will be a threat for a third gold buckle.

“It’s always good to start like this, but the thing is about finishing good. I just hope God can give health to me to keep riding and keep doing my job and finish strong.”

After securing the PBR Team Series’ inaugural MVP honors and stepping into the world’s toughest tour, only to dominate the Unleash The Beast field, the Brazilian professional has practically been on fire, regardless of competitive format.

Furthering his 2023 resume, Leme recorded an 88-point outing during the weekend’s PBR Tractor Supply Co. Invitational 15/15 Bucking Battle via a rowdy ride atop The Right Stuff Friday evening.

The second-place finish, yielding only to Dalton Kasel’s 89.75-point outing aboard Roc Wit It, earned Leme an additional 48 Unleash The Beast points. Combined with the 134 points he received for the first-place finish in the event overall, Leme exited the contest with a total of 182 Unleash The Beast points.

Through the veteran’s first two weeks back on tour, he’s gone an impressive 7-for-8, defending the premier series’ best riding percentage at 87.5%.

Leme will be back in action next weekend as the Unleash The Beast tour is set to invade Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, Jan. 21-22. Round 1 of PBR Gwinnet Chute Out is scheduled to begin on Jan. 21 at 6:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV, with the remaining action set to play out Jan. 22 beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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