Mauricio Moreira Delivers Career-Best Performance to Win PBR’s Sioux Falls Invitational

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the first time in 126 days, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour returned to action, as the first fan-attended PBR event weekend since mid-March wound to a close inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

After the groundbreaking 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, concluded earlier in the afternoon, with Team Cooper Tires crowned the inaugural champion, 23 of the world’s best cowboys took to the dirt to compete for crucial world points and their share of the $20,000 purse.

Delivering the best performance of his young career, and sweeping the event, Mauricio Moreira (Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil) emerged victorious at the PBR Sioux Falls Invitational, winning $7,440 and 44 world points.

The 21-year-old began his march to the top of the Can-Am cage with a Round 1 win, covering Tested & Bruised (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) for 87.5 points.

Continuing his momentum in the championship round, Moreira concluded the event on a monstrous note. Going head-to-head against Boogie Bomb (Bland Bucking Bulls/Cooper), Moreira recorded the high-marked ride of his career, marked a massive 92.25 points in the final out.

Compliments of the victory, the first of Moreira’s PBR career, the Brazilian surged from No. 18 to No. 13 in the world standings. He is now within 594.17 points of world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil).

Moreira’s victory also helped him further hone in on the No. 1 standing in the Rookie of the Year race. Presently the No. 2 cowboy in the competition amongst first-year professionals, Moreira is now within 74.17 points of No. 1 Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas).

Fresh off his victory in the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, Team Cooper Tires Captain Leme quickly transitioned to compete in the Velocity Tour event. Backed by an 84.75-point trip aboard Black Rose (Kruger Bucking Bulls) in Round 1, the former semi-professional soccer player finished the event seventh to further expand his lead atop the world standings.

Collecting $460 and three world points, Leme is now 253 points ahead of No. 2 Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana).

While Lockwood was not riding in Sioux Falls, still recovering from surgery underwent in March to repair a torn hamstring, the two-time World Champion was present inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, making his debut as a stock contractor.

Lockwood’s lone bull in the draw, Rooster Cogburn (Jess Lockwood), bucked in Round 1, marked 42.25 points when he teamed with Stetson Lawrence (Williston, North Dakota) for an 87-point score.

Runner-up at the PBR Sioux Falls Invitational was 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas).

After Davis reached the whistle on Stunt Man Ray (Kruger Bucking Bulls) for 86.5 points in Round 1, he delivered a massive 91.5-point score atop Lil 2 Train (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) in the championship round.

The Texan, who was sidelined for nearly five months at the start of the season after breaking his neck, collected $4,840 and 26 world points for his efforts. He climbed six positions in the world rankings, rising from No. 34 to No. 28.

Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma) was third.

Rebounding from a Round 1 buckoff, the tenacious Oklahoman covered Sky Harbor (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Wilks Ranch) for 88.75 points in the championship round to finish inside the Top 5.

Jesse left the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center with a check for $2,840 in addition to 13 world points. He maintained his world No. 6 rank, closing within 454 points of No. 1 Leme.

Fourth was Lawrence, earning $2,340 and 10 world points

The North Dakotan, who was part of the 2020 PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge Champion Team Cooper Tires, went 1-for-2, backed by his ride aboard Lockwood’s bull Rooster Cogburn in Round 1.

Lawrence is now ranked No. 18 in the world, 625.5 points back of Leme.

Rounding out the Top 5 was Kache Moosman (Price, Utah) who rode Shadow’s Recruit (Kruger Bucking Bulls) for 86.75 points in Round 1. His 1-for-2 showing earned him a paycheck for $1,480 and seven world points.

Amongst the rank pen of bovine athletes which combined for 22 buckoffs in 31 outs (70.96%), Marquis Metal Works Bill The Butcher (Paradigm Bull Co./Marquis Metal Works) was the high-marked bull of the event. The powerful, black and white bull made quick work of Moosman in the championship round, sending him to the dirt in 3.11 seconds en route to a 45.75-point bull score.

Two additional bulls also logged massive scores. Posting matching 45-point outs, Boogie Bomb registered the score when he combined with event-winner Moreira for a 90-point score, and Total Feeds Bushwacked (Ohl/Herb/McDowell/Comozzi) posted the marks when he dispatched Austin Richardson (Stephenville, Texas) in 4.23 seconds in Round 1.

Fans can relive all the action from the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Sioux Falls Invitational Monday, July 13, starting at 8 a.m. ET on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile app.

The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will next travel to Waco, Texas, and the Extraco Events Center on September 11-12. All scheduled dates for PBR events are subject to change based on government guidance and changing health conditions.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

Sioux Falls Invitational

Denny Sanford PREMIER Center – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2- Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Mauricio Gula Moreira, 87.5-92.25-179.75-44 Points.
2. Cooper Davis, 86.5-91.5-178.00-26 Points.
3. Colten Jesse, 0-88.75-88.75-13 Points.
4. Stetson Lawrence, 87-0-87.00-10 Points.
5. Kache Moosman, 86.75-0-86.75-7 Points.
6. Daylon Swearingen, 86.25-0-86.25-4 Points.
7. Jose Vitor Leme, 84.75-0-84.75-3 Points.

Matt Triplett, 0-0-0.00

Mason Taylor, 0-0-0.00

Derek Kolbaba, 0-0-0.00

Alex Cerqueira, 0-0-0.00

Ezekiel Mitchell, 0-0-0.00

Joao Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0.00

Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0.00

Amadeu Campos Silva, 0-0-0.00

Rafael Henrique dos Santos, 0-0-0.00

Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0.00

Alex Santana, 0-0-0.00

Venn Johns, 0-0-0.00

Brady Portenier, 0-0-0.00

Ouncie Mitchell, 0-0-0.00

Dalton Rudman, 0-0-0.00

Austin Richardson, 0-0-0.00