Santos and Barbosa Pick Up TPD Victories at Slick Rock Challenge

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – Unleash The Beast regulars Rafael Henrique dos Santos and Dener Barbosa picked up Touring Pro Division victories this past weekend at the Slick Rock Challenge in Rocksprings, Texas.

Santos won the first night of the two Touring Pro Division events held at Edwards County Fairgrounds with a flawless 2-for-2 performance on Friday. The No. 12 ranked bull rider won both rounds of the competition, first with an 88.5-point ride on Boondock before capping his victory with 90 points aboard Kid Knapper in the championship round.

 
Barbosa’s first-round, winning-ride on Cajun Moon (89.5 points) was enough to deliver him the victory on Saturday as no rider went 2-for-2 during the second night of competition. The No. 4 ranked bull rider in the world was double-entered in the event, and he also tied for third-place with Claudio Montanha Jr. courtesy of his 88.5-point ride on Little Voodoo Jacket.

Bubba G (5.83 seconds) and Crazy Corona (3.48 seconds) bucked Barbosa off in the championship round. Bubba G was impressive and was marked 46 points.

Barbosa went a combined 3-for-7 in Rocksprings, Texas, this weekend for 20.5 world points, also finishing in fourth place Friday at the Slick Rock Challenge.

 
The 27-year-old now trails world leader Jose Vitor Leme, who went 1-for-3 in Rocksprings, by 348.67 points in the world standings.

Santos was one of only two riders to cover both of their bulls Friday night. Luciano de Castro finished in second place after also going 2-for-2. Castro rode Red for 85.5 points in Round 1 and Louisville Slugger for 80.5 points in the championship round.

Castro also placed third in the event on his second entry after also riding White Liar for 86 points in Round 1. Dennis bucked him off in 2.25 seconds in the championship round.

In total, Castro left Rocksprings with 15 world points and pushed himself closer to the Top 30. Castro is ranked 34th in the world standings and trails No. 30 Caic Cassio Carvalho by 28.17 points. Castro has appeared at four consecutive PBR World Finals.

Montanha moved up to No. 31 in the standings, six points behind Carvalho, with a Round 1 ride on both of his entries Saturday. Montanha finished second overall with his 89 points on Crossover and tied for third place with an 88.5-point effort aboard Hanna Motors Power Dozer.

Professional Bull Riders – Slick Rock Challenge Day 1
Rocksprings, TX, 2021 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 88.5-90-178.50-15 Points.
2. Luciano De Castro [1], 85.5-80.5-166.00-8 Points.
3. Luciano De Castro [2], 86-0-86.00-7 Points.
4. Dener Barbosa [1], 84.5-0-84.50-4 Points.
Jose Vitor Leme [1], 0-0-0.00
Jose Vitor Leme [2], 0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa [2], 0-0-0.00
Mauricio Gulla Moreira, 0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-0-0.00
J.T. Moore, 0-0-0.00
Lane Nobles, 0-0-0.00
Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0.00
Alvaro Aguilar Alvarez, 0-0-0.00
Ross Freeman, 0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza [1], 0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza [2], 0-0-0.00
Junio Quaresima, 0-0-0.00
Daniel Keeping [1], 0-0-0.00
Daniel Keeping [2], 0-0-0.00
Rusty Bruinsma, 0-0-0.00
Matt Hennelly, 0-0-0.00
Daniel Galvan [1], 0-0-0.00
Daniel Galvan [2], 0-0-0.00
Zach Valderas, 0-0-0.00
Colten Brown, 0-0-0.00
Paulo Souza Rodriguez, 0-0-0.00
Buddy Asher, 0-0-0.00
Dantey Eldridge, 0-0-0.00
Cimarron Rucker, 0-0-0.00
Steven Smith, 0-0-0.00
Fernando Mayans, 0-0-0.00
Fabian de la Cruz, 0-0-0.00
Deklan Garland, 0-0-0.00
Vitor de Mello, 0-0-0.00

Professional Bull Riders – Slick Rock Challenge Day 2
Rocksprings, TX, 2021 – Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Dener Barbosa [2], 89.5-0-89.50-15 Points.
2. Claudio Montanha Jr. [3], 89-0-89.00-8 Points.
3. Dener Barbosa [1], 88.5-0-88.50-5.5 Points.
(tie). Claudio Montanha Jr. [1], 88.5-0-88.50-5.5 Points.
5. Ross Freeman [1], 85-0-85.00-3 Points.
6. Jose Vitor Leme, 75-0-75.00-2 Points.
Mauricio Gulla Moreira [2], 0-0-0.00
Mason Taylor, 0-0-0.00
Claudio Montanha Jr. [2], 0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro [1], 0-0-0.00
Luciano De Castro [2], 0-0-0.00
J.T. Moore, 0-0-0.00
Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0.00
Alvaro Aguilar Alvarez, 0-0-0.00
Ross Freeman [2], 0-0-0.00
Ouncie Mitchell [1], 0-0-0.00
Ouncie Mitchell [2], 0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0-0.00
Junio Quaresima, 0-0-0.00
Chance Lopez, 0-0-0.00
Daniel Keeping [1], 0-0-0.00
Daniel Keeping [2], 0-0-0.00
Paulo Souza Rodriguez, 0-0-0.00
Buddy Asher, 0-0-0.00
Matteo Nunez [1], 0-0-0.00
Matteo Nunez [2], 0-0-0.00
Cimarron Rucker, 0-0-0.00
Fernando Mayans [1], 0-0-0.00
Fernando Mayans [2], 0-0-0.00
Fabian de la Cruz [1], 0-0-0.00
Deklan Garland, 0-0-0.00
Vitor de Mello, 0-0-0.00

© 2021 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.