UNCASVILLE, Conn. (October 1, 2010) - Riding Real Moody (Jeff Robinson/Cappello) for 90.25 points, Robson Palermo of Rio Branco, Brazil, is in the lead after Round 1 of the Professional Bull Riders elite Built Ford Tough Series Mohegan Sun Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, which took place Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
There were 22 qualified rides in Round 1, and less than four points separate the Top 10 riders heading into Round 2 on Saturday.
Austin Meier of Kinta, Okla., extended his lead in the BFTS standings to 160.5 points over J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, N.C. Renato Nunes of Buritama, Brazil, sits in third, 683.25 points back. Meier is in 10th place through Round 1, after scoring 86.5 points on Justin’s Pet (Buckin’ B Cattle Company), while Nunes is tied for eighth with an 86.5-point effort on Short Notice (C’N Stars/Prohaska Livestock).
There are 200 possible points for the winner of Round 2, and up to 300 points for the top finisher in the Final Five Showdown, which gives Mauney a chance to catch Meier Saturday.
Two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers of Jonesville, La., scored 89.75 points on Artic Circle (C’N Stars Bull Company), and was the leader from the second flight until the end of the fifth flight, when Palermo overtook him. Jordan Hupp of Cheyenne, Wyo., is in third place after riding Bird Creek (Jeff Robinson/Leon Frakes) for 88 points.
There is a three-way tie for fourth place – at 87.5 points – between 2002 PBR World Champion Ednei Caminhas of Presidente Alves, Brazil, Shane Proctor of Mooresville, N.C., and Pistol Robinson of Burleson, Texas. Proctor rode The Bug (Herbert Bucking Bulls/Georgia Akers), while Caminhas was successful on Vortex (Sonny Williams). Robinson reached the buzzer on Goose Bumps (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve).
Round 2, as well as the Final Five Showdown, which features the Top 10 riders in the BFTS standings competing on a bonus bull, will take place Saturday, beginning at 7:50 p.m. ET. Round 3 and the Built Ford Tough Championship round, featuring the Top 15 riders from the event, is set for Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available for both days and can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, www.ticketmaster.com and by telephone at (800) 745-3000.
Fans who are unable to make it to the Mohegan Sun Arena can watch the action on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET, both Saturday and Sunday. The Final Five Showdown will be broadcast on CBS on Sunday, at 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. (Please check local listings for details).
Built Ford Tough Series Mohegan Sun Invitational presented by Cooper Tires
Oct. 1, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Round 1
1. Robson Palermo, Rio Branco, Brazil, 90.25 points on Real Moody (Jeff Robinson/Cappello).
2. Chris Shivers, Jonesville, La., 89.75 points on Artic Circle (C’N Stars Bull Company).
3. Jordan Hupp, Cheyenne, Wyo., 88 points on Bird Creek (Jeff Robinson/Leon Frakes).
4. (tie) Shane Proctor, Mooresville, N.C., 87.5 points on The Bug (Hebert Bucking Bulls/Georgia Akers).
Ednei Caminas, Presidente Alves, Brazil, 87.5 points on Vortex (Sonny Williams).
Pistol Robinson, Burleson, Texas, 87.5 points on Goose Bumps (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve).
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 100 million viewers annually watch over 400 hours of primetime PBR programming on VERSUS, NBC, CBS and networks around the world. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 20 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million -- the most of any western-sports athlete in history. The PBR was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Nearly two million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamPBR and http://twitter.com/TEAMPBR.
