Lockwood Out for Kansas City, but his Confidence is ‘Soaring’

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood was hoping the swelling in his right (free) hand would go down in time for this weekend’s PBR Caterpillar Classic in Kansas City, Missouri, but Lockwood is still barely able to move his fingers or use his hand.

Therefore, Lockwood has decided to doctor out of this weekend’s Unleash The Beast to protect himself from further injury.

“My hand is just sore. I can’t even use it,” Lockwood told PBR.com this week. “I was on the fence for the weekend because I was hoping my hand would get better. Now that I am feeling good and riding good again, I don’t want to hurt myself over something stupid of not being able to pull my wrap once I make the whistle.”

Lockwood got X-rays on Monday in Dallas with Dr. Tandy Freeman that showed he did not break his free hand but that he does have a handful of broken joints in his finger. Lockwood met with hand specialist Dr. Bo Frederick and now has a special brace for his free hand.

The 23-year-old was injured when Marquis Metal Works Coriolis Effect bucked him off in 2.17 seconds last Friday in Glendale, Arizona.

However, Lockwood was able to bounce back to go 2-for-3 and finish in second place at the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational inside Gila River Arena.

 
Lockwood explained that his decision not to ride in Kansas City is a matter of not being able to safely disembark a bull. While he could get help from Cooper Davis last weekend inside the bucking chute to take his wrap, he was still on his own once he nodded for the gate.

“It sucks that I needed a village to tie me in, but the worst part is when the ride is over. How am I going to get off?” Lockwood said. “I don’t want to just let them have me and try to get off and get jerked down underneath one or be jerked down, hand hanging, and drug around because I can’t pull my wrap.”

It was more than a year ago in which Lockwood sustained a career-threatening torn left hamstring in Kansas City when he caught his spur and had his hamstring ripped off the bone following a 91.5-point ride on I’m Legit Too.

Lockwood is 7-for-23 on the Unleash The Beast since returning from that injury last September. However, his return has also featured a right shoulder injury last fall, a broken jaw in this year’s season-opener and this latest free-hand injury. He also needs minor surgery on his right wrist for an old injury, which he plans on getting done around this season’s summer break.

The Volborg, Montana, native admitted it has been tough to get back into rhythm as he has only been to nine events at all levels of competition in the past year.

“People can say it is like a bike and you pick it back up, but hell no,” Lockwood said. “It is a feeling that the more you get on, the better you feel. It is a feeling you have to have, and it has to come by getting on more bulls. I haven’t been able to get on bulls consistently in a year. I came back from my hamstring, went to Billings and one or two more events, and got hurt. Then I couldn’t get on consistently. Then I came back for the Finals, got on four bulls, took another break until the first of the year, and then got hurt again.

“I haven’t been able to get on bulls consistently for a year-plus. That is what is so damn tough. I know when I go in the summertime and I am getting on bulls every weekend, and during the week, that is the best I ever ride. We are just going and getting on bulls consistently.”

Lockwood, though, jumped to No. 18 in the world standings following his second-place finish in Glendale, and he does believe he is regaining that rhythm he desires to end the first half on a surge.

While Lockwood may have to miss this weekend, he believes his riding is back to where it needs to be and that he should be back competing very soon, once his free-hand swelling subsides and he can move his fingers.

“My confidence is soaring high right now, so the last thing I want to do is go this weekend, not be able to pull my wrap, and get hurt and have to sit out for who knows how long if something bad happens,” Lockwood concluded. “I just hate setting myself up like that. Yeah, I could probably ride, but the hard part is getting off.”

MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH LOCKWOOD VIRTUALLY IN APRIL

 
Fans can purchase a personal, virtual meet-and-greet with Lockwood (limited spaces are available) for April 10 through the PBR’s Virtual Experiences program.

To reserve a spot for $45, fans can sign up here.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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