MILWAUKEE – There was a fierce look in two-time reigning World Champion Jose Vitor Leme’s eye on Saturday night as he punted his helmet high into the air inside Fiserv Forum.
Leme had just ridden JAG Metals Grand Theft for a season-high 92 points during the championship round of the PBR Ariat Invitational. It was the largest statement so far this year that the 25-year-old is ready to push for history at the 2022 PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 13-22.
No rider in PBR history has won three consecutive gold buckles, and Leme is determined to rewrite history once again.
However, Leme was in an uncharacteristic situation earlier this weekend. It was hard to even call it a slump, in all reality, when he walked into the locker room on Saturday afternoon.
Gasp! Leme had bucked off three consecutive bulls, including Lonesome Fugitive in 4.26 seconds in Round 1 on Friday night, something he had not done since last August. In fact, it was the only time last season that Leme bucked off that many bulls in a row.
Leme, though, brushed off any concern this weekend in Milwaukee, which fans can watch Sunday on CBS Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET.
“I am ready for tonight,” Leme said before Round 2. “I have a better bull than last night, and he will maybe give me good points and get me into the short round.”
Leme did just that, riding Tiger for 88 points and sneaking into the championship round in sixth place. His efforts aboard Grand Theft then propelled him to a fourth-place finish and helped him move from No. 22 in the world standings to No. 13.
The five-time PBR World Finals qualifier did lose some ground in the world title race to event winner Joao Ricardo Vieira. Leme trails Vieira, the No. 1 bull rider in the world, by 348.5 points ahead of next weekend’s PBR Express Ranches Invitational, presented by Union Home Mortgage, in Oklahoma City.
Leme will not panic about his world ranking or deficit, either. Before making his season debut this year in Duluth, Georgia, he told a friend that he believes he only needs five events to get back inside the Top 5 of the world standings.
So far, Leme is up to No. 13 in three events. He is only 97.5 points behind No. 5 Mauricio Moreira.
Many would believe Leme could jump into the Top 5 sooner than five events, but he said he chose that number because of how strong the competition has been this year.
“Look at Joao,” Leme said with a laugh. “He stole points from me today in Round 2 with that round win and me in second.”
There is no disbelief in his own abilities. Leme knows what he is capable of, and the entire world saw it with his ride on Grand Theft. The defending champ is back, and he is more than ready to try to regain his throne.
“I know the other guys in the front are not going to buck off,” Leme said. “They are going to keep riding their bulls. That is why I think I need five events and not less.”
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