For the first time in thirteen years, the Professional Bull Riders Unleash The Beast Tour made its way back to the bold north with a stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Coming into this weekend’s event we are in the process of watching one of the best years in the history of the organization in all races, including the world title race and the rookie of the year race which makes this weekend that much more powerful on all fronts. Including this weekend, we only have three events left for those needing and wanting to make moves to do so and this is the weekend to do it.
Last time the Professional Bull Riders were in Minnesota, retired bull rider Matt Bohon managed to pull out the win in this very arena, Target Center, that has a much different look than it did thirteen years ago in 2006. This stop will play host to many memorable moments all while closing the door on the last 15/15 Bucking Battle of the 2019 season, which allows the top fifteen in the world standings a chance to gain some extra world title race points while chasing a world title spotlight that they all want!
Dalton Kasel Brings Home The Round One Win In Minneapolis
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Friday night gave the fans in attendance and watching from their homes all across the country on Ride Pass something to cheer about as some virtual unknown bulls made their way to the arena dirt along with some of the very best in the business vying for their very own World Champion Bucking Bull title. Although the list of injuries and notable absents were large the contestants that were here did everything that they could to take advantage of the situation at hand. I was able to catch up with Dalton Kasel following his round one win to see what he had to say about his time thus far riding alongside his heroes of the bull riding world so check it out below!
Things started off with a bang as Cooper Davis would lead the field of 35 for the first round and set the tone for the rest of the evening as the crowd roared with excitement. Once everything was all said and done there would be 15 of the top 35 bull riders in the world that would take qualified rides into the second round of action tomorrow night here at the Target Center. That being said, only one, rookie of the year contender Dalton Kasel, could outlast the others in the line-up by putting up the top-scored ride of Friday night. He would be able to do that by conquering Check Bucking Bulls’ Really Western to the tune of 87 points to bring home the round one win and the 100 world title race points that went along with it.
Complete List Of Round One Qualified Rides:
Dalton Kasel (87.00) Rubens Barbosa & Junio Quaresima (86.75)
Brady Sims & Chase Outlaw (86.25) Alan de Souza & Matt Triplett ( 85.75)
Ruger Piva (85.50) Mason Taylor (85.25)
Dakota Buttar (84.75) Cody Nance & Kurt Shephard (84.25)
Cody Teel (83.25) Lucas Divino (80.50)
Marco Eguchi (76.00)
Jess Lockwood Claims His Fourth 15/15 Bucking Battle Win Of 2019
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
If round one of the Minneapolis Invitational was not enough to leave the fans inside of the Target Center speechless there was more yet to come on night one with another championship-caliber round to come. Tonight we would all watch the end of a 2019 era come as the last 15/15 Bucking Battle unfolded before our very eyes. Once the dust settled from all the action of round one, the top 15 bull riders in the world had another chance to earn some extra world title race points.
That being said, that task would not be easy on the bull riders as the bovine power was on display as many of the bucking bulls contending for a world title showed what they had. Just as all other 15/15 Bucking Battles, the ride counts would be slim but the bull scores and excitement that the round brings left 7 qualified rides with Jess Lockwood coming out victorious. He would earn the round win and 150 world title race points with an amazing ride atop of Phenom Genetic’s Bad Beagle to the tune of a whopping 91.50 points!
Complete List Of 15/15 Bucking Battle Qualified Rides:
Jess Lockwood (91.50) Derek Kolbaba (90.25)
Joao Ricardo Vieira (89.25) Jose Vitor Leme (88.50)
Cooper Davis (88.00) Alisson de Souza (87.50)
Luciano De Castro (85.50)
Cody Teel Takes Home The Round Two In In Minneapolis
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock media
Following a fantastic round one last night, the action was about to heat up even more as the final stretch of the 2019 Minneapolis Invitational was set to begin. Every cowboy in the locker room area knew the time was now or never to begin the final countdown to the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas. After tonight’s conclusion, the top bull riders in the world only have two more events to make the needed moves to guarantee their spot in the line-up that happens just one month from now.
Once the lights began to shine brightly down on the arena floor and the opening ceremonies concluded, it was time to get down to business to see who would finish round two in one of the top fifteen positions to earn a spot in the Championship Round later in the evening. Coming into round two fifteen riders brought qualified rides with them making the second round one to watch as we shook out how the standings would look. Tonight, 11 of the 35 riders would make the buzzer with Texan Cody Teel coming out above all others with an 88.75 point ride aboard Painted Moon.
Complete List Of Round Two Qualified Rides:
Cody Teel (88.75) Cooper Davis (88.25)
Mason Taylor & Dalton Kasel (87.25) Jess Lockwood (87.00)
Keyshawn Whitehorse (86.50) Kurt Shephard (85.75)
Alan de Souza (85.00) Ruger Piva (84.00)
Taylor Toves (83.75) Alisson de Souza (83.25)
Cooper Davis Secures The Championship Round Win In Minneapolis
Photo Credit: Denise Hetland / www.therodeoroundup.com
Once the Championship Round was set it was time to see who would take full advantage of earning some late-season world title race points here in Minneapolis. Once the draft concluded atop of the shark cage it was time to watch the top 15 bull riders from the first two rounds square off for the 2019 Minneapolis Invitational title. Once things were all said and done there were only 4 of the 15 competing who would manage to earn yet another qualified ride here inside of the Target Center. That being said, no one could match the effort that Cooper Davis was able to put up on Speed Demon to take home the championship round win with a 90.25 point ride here in Minneapolis.
Complete List Of Championship Round Qualified Rides:
Cooper Davis (90.75) Jess Lockwood (89.00)
Alan de Souza (88.50) Cody Nance 988.25)
Alan de Souza Is Your 2019 Minneapolis Invitational Event Champion
Photo Credit: Denise Hetland / www.therodeoroundup.com
When we talk about how important late-season dominance becomes that was made clearly evident here this weekend at the Minneapolis Invitational. Once all was said and done one man stood taller than the rest while staking claim to an event win in Minnesota for the first time in thirteen years. Even though the PBR has not been to the bold north for many years, the loyal fans in Minnesota knew exactly what to expect before any of them made their way home. Everyone knew that a new event champion had to be crowned and an interview to take place. Tonight, that lucky man would be non-other than Alan de Souza who would walk out of Minneapolis after going a perfect 3-for-3 and while earning a combined 259.25 points. His efforts would land him 460 world title race points and place him into the number 24 spot in the world standings, moving up from 41st, with only two events remaining in the 2019 Professional Bull Riders Unleash The Beast season.
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