After last weekend’s event, the look of those competing in the top 35 beginning this weekend here in Kansas City, Missouri will have quite a bit of a different look. As everyone knows after the first five events the first changing of the guard of the season takes place as we see who is cut from the Built Ford Tough Series tour and who earned their own spot in their absence. Although the changes were made we will also see a few of the cowboys competing on their dwindling injury exemptions as they try not to be dropped themselves!
Just six nights ago we saw two bull riders dropped off tour that have been quickly becoming fan favorites throughout the 2017 season. Nathan Shaper and Tyler Harr did not have the start needed and will now compete on the BlueDEF Velocity Tour while several others made their way on. We have already seen Dener Barbosa, Matt Triplett, Brady Sims, Luis Blanco, Reese Cates and Koal Livingston on tour but three will make their debuts this weekend. Sonny Schafferius, Claudio Montanha and Cody Ford have earned their own way onto the BFTS scene after climbing up into the top 35 in the world standings!
Cooper Davis Earns The Top Spot In Round One
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Saturday Night live was in full effect earlier this evening when round one of the Kansas City Invitational Presented By Express Employment Professionals began. Like I said earlier there are some new faces on tour that came into tonight’s round looking to make a statement and show the other riders here that they belong competing side by side with them. All in all the action in the first round lived up to the expectations that the sold out crowd inside of the Sprint Center had.
Once the round started the energy was buzzing both down on the arena floor and throughout the fan base that filled the seats. It was quickly realized that the fans in attendance would see some of the best bull riding action we have seen all year. After all was said and done there would be 12 of the top 35 bull riders in the world that would manage to make qualified rides and carry a score into tomorrow afternoon’s action. That being said, no one could match the effort that reigning world champion Cooper Davis was able to put up against BMC Bucking Bulls/Jeff Robinson’s Bezerk as they matched up for a round-winning 87.75 point ride!
Complete Break-Down Of Qualified Rides In Round One Listed Below:
Cooper Davis (87.75) Eduardo Aparecido (86.75)
Shane Proctor (86.25) Stetson Lawrence (86.00)
Ryan Dirteater (85.50) Silvano Alves (85.25)
Claudio Montanha Jr. (84.50) Mason Lowe (83.25)
Robson Aragao (82.75) Cody Rodeo Tyler (81.75)
Joao Ricardo Vieira (75.00) Reese Cates (68.75)
Rubens Barbosa And Pearl Harbor Get A Re-Match In The 15/15
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
As round one drew to a close it was known what was about to happen down on the arena floor as not one person would be leaving their seat. The third 15/15 Bucking Battle of the 2017 Built Ford Tough Series season was about to happen live before their very eyes! Many of the match-up’s tonight would be ones for the ages as the top three bull riders in the world standings would pair up with the top three bucking bulls from the 2016 World Champion Bucking Bull race.
Although there would be fifteen match-up’s there would be one, Rubens Barbosa Vs. Pearl Harbor, that would be watched closely. This is a re-match from earlier this year where Pearl Harbor would dominate and that would continue tonight as Barbosa falls short, once again, at 6.67 seconds. That being said there would only be one of the fifteen that would be able to ride for the eight seconds and earn a score. That man would be Kaique Pacheco who would put up an 86.75 point ride atop of J.A.R.S Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen’s Moto Moto for the 15/15 Bucking Battle win!
After tonight’s first round the anticipation of what is to come tomorrow afternoon is almost unbearable for those loyal PBR fans watching in person and at home. Championship Sunday will surely be one to watch closely as the event title is wide open and those new faces on the Built Ford Tough Series tour strive to make a solid statement and put themselves on the map as some of the best bull riders in the world. Each and every one of them are wanting to leave Kansas City on a high as we head to Arlington, Texas and the Iron Cowboy major event at the legendary AT&T Cowboy Stadium!
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