PUEBLO, Colo. (June 30, 2010) - Three important facts stand out when analyzing Valdiron de Oliveira.
For starters, he’s 31 years old, oftentimes injured, and in spite of being one of the most consistent riders when it comes to making the 8-second whistle, he has just four Built Ford Tough Series wins in 89 career events. By comparison, the past two World Champions – Kody Lostroh (2009) and Guilherme Marchi (2008) – each won five events the year they won the title.
In 16 previous seasons, only four PBR World Champions have been over the age of 30 when they won the title. Twice it was Adriano Moraes, while Troy Dunn (1998) and Tuff Hedeman (1995) also accomplished the feat. All three are considered to be among the greatest riders of all time.
Couple that fact with a lack of flare, and Oliveira – who has already missed five events this season – will have his work cut out for him during the remaining 10 events between now and the World Finals in October.
Riding percentage: 65.3 (2010), 61.6 (career); Influential rides from 2010: Rode Little Mr. T and Bones in back-to-back outs in Arlington, Texas, setting up his win at the Iron Cowboy Invitational; Most telling statistic of 2010: Two of his four career BFTS event wins (Baltimore and Arlington) have come this year.
In the third of a 10-part series, a panel of experts – Cody Lambert, Ty Murray, Justin McBride and Justin McKee – weigh in on the current Top 10 riders in the world, and what it will take for any one of them to win the 2010 PBR World Championship.
What the experts are saying:
Ty Murray: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. And in my opinion, it’s going to be hard to win a World Championship doing what he’s doing. He gets the bulls rode, but he doesn’t have a lot of real memorable rides. And when you’re doing a judged sport, I think, you have to learn how to stand out. You have to figure out how to be memorable. You have to figure out how to wow and be awe inspiring. We’ve seen him be that robotic-like guy that has a real high riding percentage, and I would very rarely bet against Valdiron – if it’s just, ‘Will he make the whistle or not?’ He can ride any bull, but I feel like to win a World Championship, it’s going to take more than that. I have a lot of high praise for him other than that fact.”
Cody Lambert: “I think he can (win a World Championship), and it’s an urgent matter the next three years, but a 31-year-old, who has been on the Built Ford Tough Series for three years is not like a 31-year-old guy that’s been on the Built Ford Tough Series since he’s 18. (He) hasn’t taken the same pounding. Mike Lee seems older than Valdiron.”
Justin McKee: “I’d like to have a definite opinion, but I don’t, because I don’t know what he’s gone through to this point. I don’t know how long he’s been riding bulls… The thing I like about him is that when everyone else bucks off, you can count on him riding.”
Justin McBride: “I didn’t know Valdiron was that old. I thought he was in his early 20s. I didn’t know he was an older guy. I don’t know the guy, and there’s such a barrier trying to get to know him, but watching him and watching the way he handles himself, he’s a guy that definitely needs a shot of confidence. I think he can ride as good as any of the guys, and he’s stronger than any of the guys, so that allows him to get by when he’s not in the right position.”
Chance of winning title in 2010:
Lambert: “I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s close enough unless he gets lucky. Not lucky, as far as his riding, because he knows what he’s doing and he’s talented enough. He has that under control, but the thing he has no control over is those other guys. If their seasons fall apart – if a couple of them got hurt or got in a slump – then he would have a chance, but the guys ahead of him are just so tough and missing five events, I think, will take him out of it… Injuries are part of the deal, and sometimes guys look like they’re going to win a championship and then they get hurt and they can’t finish, or it takes them out a good part of the year. Valdiron missed five events and probably rode hurt at a few events before then. If Valdiron, (Guilherme) Marchi and Renato (Nunes) are all riding 65-percent of their bulls, and one of them gets to go to five more events, he’s going to win.”
McKee: “He’ll have to play hurt. He’s going to have to play through the pain. He’s going to get hurt and he’s going to get beat up. Those other Top 10 guys can play through the pain and you may not ever even know they’re hurt. He knows he’s hurt, he shows he’s hurt and, to me, that can be a sign of weakness. He’s pretty dramatic.”
McBride: “He doesn’t seem like he’s got that killer instinct really, and believes he’s the best bull rider in the world. I think he believes he’s good, but I don’t think he believes he’s the best one out there.”
NEWS and NOTES
Top wrecks of 2010: Watch the top wrecks of 2010, then vote for the worst here.
Mo-bull: Don’t miss PBR action when you’re on the go. Follow the PBR on your mobile phone by texting “PBR” to 47201 (standard texting rates apply), or browse to mobull.pbrnow.com.
