LEME DETERMINED TO WIN PBR WORLD TITLE

In the final round, Leme did get out of shape but was able to work himself back over the front of his bull and fight his way to the 8-second whistle.

Two-time PBR World Champion turned television broadcaster Justin McBride described the ride as an impressive effort by Leme.

“Every time I see him, I think he gets better,” told McBride, told the now-rare television audience. “And he was an outstanding bull rider a year ago. That shows you how much better he is today.”

Fellow Monster Energy rider Marco Eguchi was splitting second and third in event average with Leme after two of three rounds but missed out on the Championship Round with what has since been diagnosed as a partially torn groin. 

Eguchi will miss this weekend’s return to Guthrie for the third event in four weeks without fans present. 

Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney and Chase Outlaw have both missed this start of the 2020 season following should surgeries and will miss Guthrie as well, but are hoping to return to competition in Cheyenne, Wyoming, if organizers go ahead with the historic 100-plus year-old event.

Another two-time World Champion, Jess Lockwood, is out until September after undergoing surgery to repair a torn hamstring. 

Last year, when Lockwood missed several events, Leme wished his teammate and rival a speedy recovery saying that Lockwood’s presence in the event makes him all that much better of a bull rider. 

Last weekend, Leme was focused and determined despite half of the Top 10 riders in the world being absent from the draw for various reasons including injuries and others being forbidden from reentering the United States during the ongoing pandemic.

“In my humble opinion, he is the best bull rider in the world, bar none,” McBride said. “He is in a league of his own right now.”

Leme will be in Guthrie along with Derek Kolbaba and Cannon Cravens.