Vieira Set to Make Season Debut in New York in Search of Fifth PBR Major Victory
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Joao Ricardo Vieira has been a perennial world title contender for the majority of his 10-year career, and there is one area in particular that he has thrived in.
Vieira is tied with 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco for the most PBR Major career victories (4), and the 37-year-old will look to begin his 10th season with a huge splash at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden on Saturday and Sunday.
Round 1 (7:30 p.m. ET RidePass on Pluto TV) will be Vieira’s season-debut and he will square off against Just Denim (2-0, UTB).
Vieira is the defending event champion in New York after going 4-for-4 to win the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden. That PBR Major victory kept Vieira in contention for the 2020 world title all the way until the end of the season until he unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19 just days before the 2020 PBR World Finals.
The 2013 PBR Rookie of the Year is coming off his third consecutive Top-5 finish in the world standings and seventh Top-5 in nine seasons. Vieira finished fourth in the 2021 world title race after posting a career-high seven 90-point rides including a personal best of 93 points on I’m Legit Too, after beginning 2021 with only 21 90-point rides in his previous eight seasons.
Vieira missed the season-opener in Indianapolis last weekend, but his 3-for-3 victory at the PBR Brazil event in Jaguariuna, Brazil, earned him 30 world points and has him sitting No. 13 in the world standings.
“I got back (Monday) and worked out in Texas and I feel good,” Vieira said. “I am ready for New York. I am going to win.”
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The PBR Major in New York could be significant for any of the 40 riders competing on Friday and Saturday night that want to win the 2022 PBR World Championship in the league’s first condensed premier series schedule
One rider can earn a maximum of 267 world points in New York.
BREAKDOWN OF POINTS IN NEW YORK
Rounds: 30, 20, 14, 12, 11, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1
Event Average: 150, 94, 67, 40, 34, 26, 17, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4
Ride Score Bonus Points: 9, 8, 7
“This is so important,” Vieira said. “This is the start of the season. You can get a lot of points and a lot of money. I am excited for us to go back to New York. I have missed New York and I hope I ride like I did the last time I rode great in New York.”
TOP 30 RIDERS OUT OF COMPETITION FROM LAST YEAR
In 2022, riders who finished inside the Top 25 of the 2021 world standings will be guaranteed five Unleash The Beast events before being subject to the cutline. Riders who finished 26-30 will be given four.
Five riders from last year’s Top 30 are unable to compete in Indianapolis.
No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (core muscle injury)
No. 2 Kaique Pacheco (Not cleared to compete)
No. 12 Junior Patrik Souza (broken left leg)
No. 28 Alex Cerqueira (in Brazil)
No. 29 Colten Fritzlan (left shoulder surgery)
RIDERS USING INJURY EXEMPTIONS
No. 10 Chase Outlaw (two remaining following New York)
No. 27 Stetson Lawrence (one remaining following New York)
No. 29 Kyler Oliver (three remaining following New York)
No. 67 Cannon Cravens (final exemption)
No. 80 Taylor Toves (two remaining following New York)
No. 80 Jess Lockwood (three remaining following New York)
No. 80 Cody Nance (two remaining following New York)
Tye Chandler (one remaining following New York)
Brennon Eldred (final exemption)
ALTERNATES
There are five alternates in the draw in New York based on the 2021 + 2022 world standings. Alternates will be based strictly on the 2022 world standings after the fifth Unleash The Beast event is complete.
No. 80 Austin Richardson
No. 11 Manoelito de Souza Jr.
No. 19 Cole Melancon
No. 80 Adriano Salgado
No. 80 Conner Halverson
TAYLOR BRINGS 18.34-POINT LEAD INTO ROUND 1 REMATCH
Mason Taylor will look to build off his second career win last week in Indy with potentially his first PBR Major title.
The new No. 1 ranked bull rider in the world has drawn Catfish (4-0) for Round 1 inside Madison Square Garden. Catfish previously bucked Taylor off in 2.4 seconds in Greensboro, North Carolina, last October.
Taylor leads No. 2 Daylon Swearingen by 18.34 points in the world standings.
There are two additional rematches in Round 1. Cody Nance vs. Lil 2 Train (4.42 seconds three years ago in Oklahoma City) and Alex Cardozo vs. Total Feeds Bushwacked (2.07 seconds five years ago in Oklahoma City).
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media
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