Leme Wins First Night of Competition in Rocksprings to Increase World Lead

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – World leader Jose Vitor Leme has not forgotten about his ultimate goal for 2020, even as he led Team Cooper Tires to a Division A title at the Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol two weeks ago.

With Division A play wrapped up in Las Vegas, Leme turned his focus back toward his main objective on Friday night by going 2-for-2 to win the first night of the Slick Rock Challenge Touring Pro Division event in Rocksprings, Texas.

Leme clinched the victory in the championship round by riding Hostage for 90 points after beginning his evening with an 87.5-point ride on Skirt Chaser.

The victory netted Leme 15 world points, and the 23-year-old extended his world lead to 250 points on No. 2 Jess Lockwood.

“Oh man, it’s so good,” Leme said. “It’s awesome when you are riding for a world title. That’s why I like going to any events. I don’t care if is Velocity or Touring Pro. If they have world points, I’ll be there.”

Leme is 40-for-56 (71%) at all levels of competition in 2020 with six event wins.

 
Rounding out the Top 5 Friday night was Austin Covington (89 points on Skull Crusher, 8 world points), Eli Vastbinder (87.5 points on Medicine Man), Rafael Henrique Santos (87 points on Rooty Tooty, 4 world points), three-time World Champion Silvano Alves (85.5 points on Why Hell Ya, 2.5 points) and Paulo Lima (85.5 points on Brutal Gangster, 2.5 world points).

Chase Outlaw finished tied for seventh place (0.5 world points) after riding M.A.G.A. for 85 points in his first PBR event of 2020 after undergoing left reconstructive shoulder surgery this past December.

Leme, who is attempting to win the first World Championship of his career, will attempt to gain another TPD victory, and 15 world points, when day two of the Slick Rock Challenge begins at 8 p.m. ET.

The 2017 PBR World Finals event winner now has 36 90-point rides at all levels of competition since he made his debut on American soil at the 2017 Velocity Tour Finals.

The ride also came in front of fans at the outdoor Edwards County Fairgrounds, which is the first PBR-sanctioned event with a live audience since the Unleash The Beast event in Little Rock, Arkansas, on March 7.

“Another 90 for my career, this is awesome,” Leme said. “I missed it, riding with the warmth of the fans, ride rank bulls, go to 90 again. I love it.”

Professional Bull Riders – Slick Rock Challenge Day 1
Rocksprings, TX, 2020
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Jose Vitor Leme, 87.5-90-177.50-15 Points.
2. Austin Covington, 89-0-89.00-8 Points.
3. Eli Vastbinder, 0-87.5-87.50-7 Points.
4. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 87-0-87.00-4 Points.
5. Silvano Alves, 85.5-0-85.50-2.5 Points.
(tie). Paulo Ferreira Lima, 85.5-0-85.50-2.5 Points.
7. Marcus Mast, 85-0-85.00-0.5 Points.
(tie). Chase Outlaw, 0-85-85.00-0.5 Points.
9. Colten Jesse, 81-0-81.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0.00
Cody Casper, 0-0-0.00
Dakota Louis, 0-0-0.00
Keith Hall, 0-0-0.00
Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0.00
Junio Patrik Souza, 0-0-0.00
Hunter Ball, 0-0-0.00
Garrion Hull, 0-0-0.00
Carlos Gomes Junior, 0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro, 0-0-0.00
Andre de Souza Cruz, 0-0-0.00
James Harper, 0-0-0.00
Eli Miller, 0-0-0.00
Chance Lopez, 0-0-0.00
Lamar Lehman, 0-0-0.00
J.T. Pettitt, 0-0-0.00
Luis Blanco, 0-0-0.00
Ricky Aguiar, 0-0-0.00
Wyatt Covington, 0-0-0.00
Cole Trivette, 0-0-0.00
Bryan Titman, 0-0-0.00
Leonardo Lima, 0-0-0.00
Dustin Ratchford, 0-0-0.00
Hayden Townsend, 0-0-0.00
Reid Barker, 0-0-0.00
Levi Schmucker, 0-0-0.00
Chase Dougherty, 0-0-0.00
Mike Lee, 0-0-0.00
Gus Rodriguez Jr., 0-0-0.00
Alecio Ferreira da Costa, 0-0-0.00

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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