Bulls dominate cowboys at Dickies, but Brazilian rider does enough to win PBR title

The bulls had their way with the cowboys over the weekend at Dickies Arena.

Jose Vitor Leme, a Brazilian from Decatur, was one of only two riders who stayed on a bull for the 8-second count during the two-day show as he clinched the title at the Professional Bull Riders WinStar World Casino and Resort Invitational.

With the title at stake in the finals on Sunday afternoon, Leme turned in an 88.25 aboard a bovine named Boogie Bomb on his way to victory. Leme earned $33,929.

“I just rode my bulls and did my work,” he said.

Leme also won the second round earlier during the performance. He turned in an 89.75 aboard Milk Man.

Leme was bucked off during the first round on Saturday night. But he came storming back on Sunday and covered both of his bulls in the second and final rounds.

He said winning in Fort Worth was a bonus because it’s so close to Decatur, his hometown when he competes in North America.

“My friends, my wife, and my family comes here to watch,” Leme said. When they come and watch, every time it’s special.”

Leme won his second consecutive title on the PBR’s Unleash The Beast, its elite tour. On Aug. 22, he won the Salt Lake City stop where he earned $34,126.

“When you win one event, you get more confidence for the next event,” Leme said. “I’m happy happy that God gave me another win in my career. It’s a blessing.”

Meanwhile, Kaique Pacheco, another Brazilian from Decatur who clinched the PBR world title in 2018, finished second Sunday. During the finals round, Pacheco turned in an average score of 75 as his bull, Mr. Majestic, slowed down during the latter part of the 8-second ride.

Throughout first two rounds, the bulls dominated the cowboys. No rider stayed on his first two bulls during Round 1 (Saturday night) and Round 2 (Sunday afternoon).

During the Sunday afternoon finals round, Pacheco was the first rider to stay on two bulls over the weekend. Though he had a lower score of 75 during the short round and had the option of a reride, he declined to take it and ended up finishing as the reserve champion behind Leme.

Leme is ranked No. 1 in the PBR’s 2020 world title race with 1,014 points. Joao Ricardo Vieira, another Brazilian who is from the Decatur area, is No. 2 with 680.75.

Vieira qualified for the finals round on Sunday. But he was denied a top three overall finish after getting bucked off of his final bull in 7.66 seconds.

In 2019, Leme finished second in the PBR’s world title race behind Jess Lockwood who is from Volborg, Montana, and has a home in Stephenville. In 2018, he finished second behind Pacheco.

Since 2003, the PBR has awarded its world champion a $1 million bonus.

Though he has a commanding lead this year, Leme said he’s not thinking about the past.

“This time, I’m trying to not remember the past two years,” he said. “I just keep focusing on this year and this season. I just try to ride every bull, bull by bull. If God wants, I will win.”

Pro rodeo update

▪ On the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, four-time world champion Tuf Cooper finished third in the tie-down roping title race with a time of 8.3 seconds at the Range Days Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D. Cooper, who has homes in Weatherford and Decatur, is ranked No. 1 in the PRCA’s 2020 world all-around standings.

▪ Former National Finals qualifier Tiany Schuster of Krum clinched the barrel racing title at the Golden Spike Rodeo in Tremonton, Utah, with a 16.99. Schuster also finished fourth at the Rapid City Rodeo with a 17.15. After all that, she’s ranked in the top 15 in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association barrel racing standings and she’s on pace to earn a second trip the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

▪ At the Mesquite Championship Rodeo on Saturday, Adam Gray, a former NFR qualifier who is from Seymour and lives in the Weatherford area, clinched the tie-down roping title with a 7.8. He’s ranked in the top 15 in the PRCA’s tie-down roping world standings and is on pace to earn sixth trip to the National Finals.

Denton Rodeo rescheduled

The North Texas State Fair Rodeo, which traditionally is a late August show in Denton, has been rescheduled for Oct. 16-18 because of coronavirus concerns. The results of the rodeo will count for the PRCA’s 2021 regular season. The 2020 regular season concludes on Sept. 30 and the top 15 in each event will advance to the 2020 National Finals.