Battle for world No. 1 heats up on Saturday night

Brazilian Fabiano Vieira’s nine-point lead over fellow Brazilian Guilherme Marchi in the Professional Bull Riders world standings lasted little more than an hour.

Marchi recorded the best ride so far this weekend, riding Wicked for 89.5 points to win the 15/15 Bucking Battle, which was worth 200 points in the Professional Bull Riders tour world standings.

The win, which he secured when Vieria recorded a memorable 89.25 on a re-ride during the evening’s final attempt, put him ahead by only 11 points in the world standings headed into Sunday afternoon’s Round 3.

The runner-up finish garnered 180 points for Vieira, who had led by nine before Marchi’s clutch performance. They were the only cowboys to last eight seconds.

“I take my hat off to Fabiano for putting that kind of pressure on me,” Marchi said.

Vieira’s 86-point ride in Saturday’s Round 2, coupled with his 86.5 from Friday propelled him into the overall lead in the Rumble in the Rockies event, which is separate from 15/15. He retains the overall lead.

After Sunday afternoon’s Round?3, the top 15 cowboys, which may not include Marchi, advance to a championship round. That determines the overall winner, who receives $30,000 and 400 points. Marchi did not record a score this weekend prior to the 15/15.

Both are jockeying for position and to have history on their side. Five of the past seven world champions led going into the summer break, which starts next Monday.

That strong 15/15 ride by Vieira won him an extra $25,000 by riding the bounty bull, King Buck.

It was the second time he pocketed the purse from an 15/15 battle, named for pairing the top 15 riders against the top 15 bulls, this season.

In the Rumble in the Rockies’ overall race, Harve Stewart is second with 171.25 points. In all, six riders recorded two rides in the opening two rounds at The Broadmoor World Arena.

JOE PAISLEY, THE GAZETTE