Leme Wins Individual Title, is Hopeful the Global Cup Will One Day Take Place in Brazil

By: Justin Felisko

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jose Vitor Leme leaped off Dang It during Round 3 of the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, and began to wave his arms up and down at the crowd inside AT&T Stadium.

Pockets of Brazilian fans in attendance rose to their feet and cheered, but the reaction still paled in comparison to whenever one of the two Team USA squads reached the 8-second mark in their home venue.

Leme was once again his electric self this weekend.

The No. 2-ranked bull rider in the world won three of the five rounds of competition to take home the individual event aggregate title and $65,396.83.

Of course, Leme would have much preferred to see Team Brazil win a third consecutive Global Cup instead of finishing in third place behind the Team USA Eagles and Team Australia.

Regardless, the Global Cup continues to be a fun experience for the Ribas Do Rio Pardo, Brazil native who pays close attention to the FIFA World Cup of soccer and is an overall sports fan.

Leme is looking forward to the day when his home country can host the PBR Global Cup.

Brazil has not hosted an international team bull riding competition since Team USA defeated Brazil at the 2009 World Cup in Barretos.

“I hope for this,” Leme said before the start of Sunday’s Bonus Round. “I wait for this, because it is amazing when the people in your own country applaud for you. When you ride your bull, everyone is excited, and they jump up and down for you. I am looking forward to one day riding at a Global Cup in Brazil.”

 
Leme accounted for three of Brazil’s five qualified rides in 16 attempts. He began the weekend with 90.25 points on Rising Sun before Sugar Boom Boom bucked him off in 6.04 seconds.

He bounced back on Sunday by riding Dang It for 89 points in Round 3, and Jive Turkey for 89.5 points in the Bonus Round.

But Leme’s heroics were not enough to rally Brazil back into contention for a third consecutive Global Cup.

Team Brazil finished a disappointing 5-for-16 and 88 points behind Team USA for the event victory. Brazil went 4-for-8 Sunday after beginning the two-day event 1-for-8 on Saturday.

In hindsight, a Leme ride aboard Sugar Boom Boom Saturday may have been enough for Brazil to sneak off with a third consecutive Global Cup title, but instead the team leaves AT&T Stadium wondering what could have been.

Strange Cargo bucked off Claudio Montanha Jr. in 6.91 seconds during the Bonus Round Sunday afternoon. A ride there may have also been enough for the Brazilians.

The only other two Brazilians to earn scores this weekend was Eduardo Aparecido (87.5 points on Holy Water) and Kaique Pacheco (79.6 points on M.A.G.A).

Head coach Guilherme Marchi tipped his hat to the Americans for taking back their home soil.

“See you guys next year,” Marchi said. “This was a tough Global Cup for Team Brazil. I thought today was going to be a good day for us with what we drew. The USA deserves to win because they proved they could get on and ride the bulls they got on. Whoever covers the most bulls wins. Congratulations.”

ST. LOUIS ON THE DOCKET FOR LEME

Leme will turn his attention back toward the 2020 world title race with the Unleash The Beast picking back up next weekend in St. Louis, Missouri, with the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational on Saturday and Sunday at Enterprise Center.

He trails world No. 1 Joao Ricardo Vieira, who declined the opportunity to ride for Team Brazil this weekend, by 17.75 points.

Round 1 airs exclusively on RidePass beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET.

There will also be a 15/15 Bucking Battle Saturday night, which will air Sunday on CBS national television at 12:30 p.m. ET.

© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.