GET SOCIAL 
SHOP NOW AT:
WRANGLER.COM

Smooth Operator Bucks Into World No. 1 Ranking

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – 2019 YETI World Champion Bull Smooth Operator made a loud and clear reminder to all of the bull riders in the locker room, as well as his bovine opponents in the 2020 YETI World Championship race, on Saturday night in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Smooth Operator may be 10 years old, but he is ready to make a push at a second consecutive World Championship, and he plans to be a handful for any rider that tries to get in his way.

The defending World Champion won a second consecutive matchup against Marco Eguchi, bucking off the 2018 World Finals event winner in 5.87 seconds for a 46.75-point bull score during the championship round of the 20th annual Dakota Community Bank & Trust Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.

The score is Smooth Operator’s best since he bucked off Ezekiel Mitchell (2 seconds) in his season debut back in January for 46.75 points.

Smooth Operator also increased his World Champion Bull average to 45.75 points to jump into the No. 1 ranking in the world standings. (Air Support, who passed away in June, also has an average score of 45.75 points).

2019 ABBI Champion Chiseled is ranked No. 3 with an average score of 45.68.

The PBR is celebrating its bovine athletes this week on its digital, social and broadcast channels as part of PBR Bull Week.

 
Berger is pursuing a second consecutive World Champion Bucking Bull title, and his chances this season will be on the back of Smooth Operator.

Smooth Operator is 10-0 this season after also bucking Eguchi off in 3.93 seconds during the Championship Game of the Monster Energy Team Challenge in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last month.

In fact, Eguchi’s effort in Bismarck – 5.87 seconds – was the longest any rider has lasted on Smooth Operator in 2020 since early February, when Jake Gardner lasted 7.73 seconds in Arlington, Texas, during the PBR Global Cup USA.

Smooth Operator has bucked off 17 consecutive riders.

Berger said earlier this week that he expected his bull to be a rank threat to win the 2020 World Championship.

“Smooth Operator is the best bull in the world. No doubt in my mind,” Berger said. “He is 10 years old. Hell, he has nothing to prove. I think he has a real good shot. Most of them other bulls don’t even have eight outs yet. If you get one that lasts until 9 or 10 years old, that is one tough son of a bitch.”

Berger also set a PBR record in Bismarck this weekend by becoming the first contractor to supply all of the bulls at one premier series event.

Berger’s bovines recorded 82 outs during the two-night performance.

BY THE NUMBERS – CHAD BERGER BUCKING BULLS IN BISMARCK

Outs: 82
Qualified Rides: 30 (36.59%)
40+ Point Outs: 80 (97.56%)
44+ Point Outs: 16 (19.51%)
45+ Point Outs: 5 (6.1%)
Under 40-Point Outs: 2 (2.44%)
Re-ride Options: 3

BERGER AND PARTNERS RAISE $30,000 FOR FABIANO VIEIRA

Berger and his partners, such as Dakota Community Bank & Trust, Tee Bench Construction, and Cooper Tires, helped raised $30,000 this week for Fabiano Vieira. The eight-time PBR World Finals qualifier remains at the Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas recovering from multiple injuries he sustained at the Stamford, Texas, July 1 Touring Pro Division event.

Berger presented the check on the arena floor on Saturday night to Vieira’s friends, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves, 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco, world No. 3 Joao Ricardo Vieira, and Paulo Crimber.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

Related Content