GLENDALE, Ariz. (March 12, 2010) - It appears that the injuries are mounting, but appearances can deceive.
The truth of the matter is that there are no more injuries to the Top 40 professional bull riders than in past years. The difference is that this year, it’s happened to some big names.
Last year’s reigning champ Kody Lostroh has missed three Built Ford Tough Series events because of his injured left riding elbow. Guilherme Marchi, who won the world title in 2008, has already missed three events with a sprained wrist. Robson Palermo missed one event because of a sprained wrist and a torn tendon in his riding hand, and Wiley Petersen missed an event after tearing the ACL in his left knee.
J.B. Mauney is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and has continued to compete in spite of a right knee that needs surgery.
Last week, two more Top 5 riders – Valdiron de Oliveira and Travis Briscoe – were added to the injury list.
Oliveira, who fell from the top spot in the standings, is out six weeks minimum with a broken shoulder. The 30-year-old Brazilian, who’s won two events this year, will be reexamined in two weeks and again a month later.
Last Saturday, Oliveira and Palermo were tapped to represent their country in the World Cup event in April. It is now unlikely Oliveira will compete.
Briscoe separated a rib two weeks ago in St. Louis, and didn’t finish that event. He tried to ride in Kansas City, only to opt out early for the second week in a row. The New Mexico native is expected to be out one to three weeks.
“He rides when he feels ready,” said Dr. Tandy Freeman, who added that Briscoe did not compound the injury in Kansas City. “It was just painful.”
Another three Top 40 riders – Brian Canter, Ryan Dirteater and Michael Manes – are also out with injuries.
The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat
In the past 10 years, no World Champion has missed more than three regular-season events the year in which he won the title. Chris Shivers missed three in 2000, as did Justin McBride in 2005.
It would seem, then, that Oliveira is thus no longer in contention for the gold buckle. It also means that if Lostroh or Marchi, who have both missed three events, miss even one more, they will have to accomplish what no other rider has been able to in a decade to win the title.
This year, however, there will be a bonus round for the Top 10 riders in final five events. Riders will earn double round points plus whatever points they earn for their qualified rides.
That may allow riders to miss a fourth event and still have a chance to make up the missing points.
Including this weekend’s event in Glendale, Ariz., there are five BFTS events before the World Cup in Las Vegas. After that, there will be a nine-event race to the final five, so it’s important from here on out for riders to earn as many points as possible in order to be ranked the Top 10 following the event in Ontario, Calif.
Against all odds
After missing more events than they’ve competed in this season, Jody Newberry and Jordan Hupp have worked their way to 17th and 18th in the world standings. Newberry has four Top 10 finishes in just five events, including a win, while Hupp has three Top 10 finishes in three events, including a win of his own.
They have missed six and eight events respectively; however, each is in position to make the Top 10 in time for the bonus rounds during the final five events. If either of them were to win this year’s gold buckle, they would defy all odds.
By the numbers
In the past six years, only McBride (2005) has won the title without finishing the Finals event in either first or second place. McBride was fifth that year, but held the held the overall lead thanks to a PBR-record eight regular-season event wins.
In the past 10 years, only one World Champion – Mike Lee (2004) – has won the title without winning a regular-season event. However, Lee did win the World Finals event.
In the past 16 years, only four World Champions were in their 30s at the time of their win. Adriano Moraes won twice in his 30s, but was 24 when he won his first PBR title. Troy Dunn (1998) and Tuff Hedeman (1995) were both 32 years old when they won their PBR titles. But Hedeman won three PRCA titles in his 20s, which leaves Dunn as the only PBR Champion to have won for the first time after turning 30 years old.
Come one, come all
Chance Roberts, Dylan Hice and Wagner Luciano are all rookies, but Luciano, at 34 years old, is making his debut after most professionals have retired.
Roberts, Hice, Luciano and Douglas Duncan are among eight alternates competing this weekend, joining Rocky McDonald, Devon Mezei, Fabiano Vieira and J.C. Navarro.
It’s all about the Benjamins
Last year it took well over $50,000 to qualify for the PBR World Finals. This year, there are already 10 riders who have earned in excess of $60,000 and have likely punched their tickets to the 2010 PBR World Finals, which takes place Oct. 20 through 24.
Past winners in Glendale
In six previous stops in Glendale, there have been six different winners: McBride (2004), Ross Coleman (2005), Shivers (2006), Palermo (2007), Clayton Williams (2008) and Cody Ford (2009). Ford won $60,960 for one day’s work, courtesy of a hefty bonus from, coincidentally, Ford.
Live Event Center
Follow all the action from this week’s BFTS event in Glendale by logging on to www.pbr.com and entering the “Event Center,” which is accessible from the tab located at the top of the main Web page. The Event Center provides live scoring, live blogging and event-related Podcasts and interviews.
