2020 Season Rewind: Top 5 Rides in New York City

By: Darci Miller

PUEBLO, Colo. – Through nine events of the Unleash The Beast schedule, there has been no shortage of rank rides and incredible moments.

The PBR’s Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden, presented by Ariat, held in New York City, was the season-opening event and first PBR Major of 2020. The event saw newly minted two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood begin his title defense, the return of 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco and young guns Mason Taylor and Colten Jesse making a statement. None of them could catch Joao Ricardo Vieira, however, as the 35-year-old won his record-tying fourth Major and claimed the world No. 1 ranking.

The PBR may be on hiatus, but you don’t have to miss out on all the action. Read on to relive the Top 5 rides, and tune into RidePass tonight at 8 p.m. ET to catch all the highlights from New York for FREE.

1. Jess Lockwood – 91.75 points on Lil 2 Train, championship round

 
In New York, Lockwood was less than two months removed from winning his second PBR World Championship, and he kept up his momentum with a 3-for-4, third-place performance. He won the championship round with his 91.75-point ride on Lil 2 Train, beginning 2020 the same way he ended 2019: all but unstoppable.

2. Mason Taylor – 90 points on Marquis Metal Works Bill The Butcher, championship round

 
Mason Taylor has Bill The Butcher’s number. Not only did he ride the bovine for 90 points in the championship round, he also rode him for a matching 90 points to win the 15/15 Bucking Battle that same weekend. Two 90-point rides to start the season made quite a statement, and Taylor finished the event with a fourth-place overall finish.

3. Eduardo Aparecido – 89.5 points on Midnight Rock, Round 1

 
Fast Eddy couldn’t have started the season any faster. Aparecido won Round 1 – the first round of 2020 – with 89.5 points on Midnight Rock, and went 3-for-4 to place seventh overall.

4. Joao Ricardo Vieira – 89.25 points on Western Skies, Round 1

 
Vieira finished the 2019 season No. 4 in the world, and he didn’t skip a beat in 2020, coming out of the gate hot to win in New York and take over the world No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2015. He was one of two riders to go 4-for-4, with his highest-scoring ride coming on his first of the season with 89.25 points aboard Western Skies.

5. Matt Triplett – 88.75 points on @PBR on TikTok, Round 3

 
Triplett went 2-for-4 for a 10th-place finish overall finish in New York. While that might not’ve been what he’d been hoping for, his 88.75-point ride aboard @PBR on TikTok won him Round 3.

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