What to Watch for: Davis Returning in Nampa
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis will reboot his pursuit of a second world title this weekend at the PBR Nampa Invitational.
Davis missed last weekend’s PBR Express Ranches Invitational in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, because of a concussion he sustained in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when Secret Weapon bucked him off in 7.54 seconds.
The No. 4-ranked bull rider in the world told PBR.com this week he is feeling better after opting to skip the Oklahoma City event.
Davis dropped two positions in the world standings, but he only lost 66.5 world points on world No. 1 Kaique Pacheco, and he will head into the Ford Idaho Center just 135.5 points behind Pacheco.
Davis has drawn David’s Charmed Magic (2-0, UTB) for Round 1 on Friday night (10 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and 9:45 p.m. ET on RidePass).
Pacheco takes on Voodoo Box (0-0, UTB) in Round 1. He sits 67 points ahead of No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira in the world standings.
Vieira will look to extend his consecutive ride streak on the Unleash The Beast to 10 when he squares off against Gray Smoke (2-0, UTB).
Pacheco and Vieira both competed Wednesday night at the Clovis Rodeo PBR Touring Pro Division event in California. The Clovis event wasa TPD Major, and Velocity-level world points were awarded. Pacheco went 1-for-2 and tied for fourth place (7.5 world points). Vieira was bucked off in Round 1.
Other riders returning from injury in Nampa include No. 18 Taylor Toves (hip) and No. 32 Jesse Petri (liver laceration, adrenal hematoma, bruised right lung).
WHO IS IN / OUT FOR Nampa
Top 30 Riders Out Because of Injury or Other
No. 19 Kyler Oliver (left shoulder)
No. 21 Jess Lockwood (left thigh)
No. 23 Mason Taylor (broken clavicle)
No. 28 Dalton Kasel (elbow surgery)
No. 30 J.T. Moore (right thigh)
Alternates for this weekend
No. 33 Jesse Petri
No. 34 Brennon Eldred
No. 36 Eli Vastbinder
No. 39 Rodrigo Melgar
Richardson is Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour invite
Austin Richardson is set to appear at the second regular-season premier series event of his career. He last competed at the PBR’s highest level when he went 0-for-5 at the 2019 PBR World Finals as a Velocity Tour wild card qualifier.
Richardson is in the draw in Nampa courtesy of his 3-for-3 victory at the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Grand Forks Chute Out last weekend.
The 21-year-old plugged away for the win by riding Armed & Dangerous (82 points), Rockin Robin (84 points) and The Muley (86.5 points).
Not only did Richardson win the event, but he also took over the No. 1 ranking in the Velocity Tour standings.
Richardson will attempt to notch the first ride of his UTB career when he faces Bell 407 (0-0, UTB) in Round 1.
Richardson has not slowed down either. The up-and-comer finished in second place at the Clovis Rodeo PBR Touring Pro on Wednesday night by winning Round 1 with 89 points on Monkey Punch. Mr. Moody then bucked him off in 2.27 seconds in the championship round.
Richardson heads into Nampa ranked 29th in the world standings. He has jumped 30 positions in the world rankings in one week (two events).
Alvidrez facing UTB cutline
Andrew Alvidrez is down to his final event exemption based on his No. 26 finish last year in the world standings, and he has some work to do if he wants to stay on the Unleash The Beast.
Alvidrez begins Nampa sitting No. 49 in the world standings. The last alternate this weekend is Rodrigo Melgar, who is 16.83 points ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Alvidrez is 49.5 points outside of the Top 30.
Alvidrez has drawn Muddy Jacket (0-0, UTB) for Round 1.
The Seminole, Texas, bull rider is also competing in Clovis on Wednesday night as he tries to work his way back up the standings.
No. 48 Ramon de Lima will have one more event exemption after this weekend to attempt to crack the Top 30. Lima faces Freckles Brown (5-7, UTB).
Nance has only rematch of Round 1
For the second week in a row, there is only one rematch in the first round.
Cody Nance will take on Jasper after the bull bested him three years ago in 2.98 seconds in Billings, Montana.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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