After sitting out the Albuquerque event to rehabilitate an ailing riding hand and wrist, Cooper Davis returned this past weekend to ride all three of his bulls, the only rider to do so and capture his first event win of the season. Davis earned 530 world points and now sits sixth in the PBR world standings with 1,768 points. Cooper finished second in both rounds two and the event championship round. The win marks his fourth top 5 finish and seventh top 10 to date. This was his first elite series win since Chicago 2018.
Jess Lockwood went 2 for 3 this weekend and was leading the field going into the event championship round where he failed to convert. Jess did however place second in round one, and win round 2 (his seventh round win of the season) to earn a combined 400 world points. Lockwood leads the PBR with a 63% riding average (17-for-27) in seven events and his 87.73-point average ride score at all levels is best in the league. He trails the PBR world leader by 674.16 points heading into the UTB summer break and he is expected to compete at various non-UTB events this summer to keep picking up points toward the world standings. Just as he did last weekend in Shipshewana, IN; Lockwood double entered and finished both second and third at the two-day Touring Pro event in Shipshewana, IN to earn 50 world points. Jess remains fourth in the PBR world standings with 2,783 points.
Derek Kolbaba went 2 for 3, tieing for 4h place, with 173.75 points.
Up Next for PBR’s Unleash the Beast tour: The PBR Unleash the Beats is now officially on its summer break and all eligible riders will re-convene for the next UTB event in Cheyenne, WY for the Last Cowboy Standing July 22nd – 23rd. This event will serve as the third Major of the season, and now takes place as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
The PBR Canada and US Touring Pro Divisions will take center stage now as riders will pick and choose which events to compete in. Now is the time to either make up some ground and compete when healthy, or stay home get healthy for the stretch drive to World Finals once the UTB returns to action. I will continue to update you on their progress and if any milestones take place as needed. Including a much more in depth analysis of the first 17 events out to you at some point in the coming weeks.