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Eli Vastbinder is currently 25^th in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 233.50 points and he has qualified for his third consecutive PBR World Finals.  In 22 events (21 regular tour stops and 1 – 15/15 Bucking Battle) Eli rode 10 of 45 outs for a 22.20 riding %.  He won 1 UTB event (Tulsa, OK) along with two top 5 and two top 10 finishes.

Briggs Madsen is currently 57^th in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 40 points, and did not qualify for the World Finals event.  In an injury shortened season Briggs competed in five events and rode 1 bull in 11 outs.  He made that one ride count though with a round win in Minneapolis, MN.  Briggs will turn his attention to the Teams season and his Oklahoma Freedom.

Jess Lockwood visited with PBR sports med when the UTB competed in Billings.  He has since talked to Dr. Freeman last week and it’s been determined that there are no new fractures to be repaired.  And that Osteitis Pubis, a condition in which there’s inflammation where the right and left pubic bones meet at the lower front part of the pelvis is the likely cause for the pain and specific treatment can now begin to get Jess back into riding shape.  Osteitis Pubis does not require a surgical procedure to remedy.  Since it usually develops from overdoing a particular activity, OR from pelvis surgery one of the keys to treating it is rest.  Jess will also incorporate electro therapy to help break up some scar tissue.  And at the very least refrain from doing the particular activity that caused the inflammation for the time being.    Getting to a diagnosis was the key for Jess, and as he told me last week he is most relieved that surgery is not needed, and he can now prepare knowing that he can’t injure himself further when he feels discomfort in his pelvis.  In an aside to all of this Jess did qualify for the 2023 World Finals, but unfortunately he is not in any condition to ride UTB World Finals quality bulls.  Both Dr. Freemen and Jess came to the same conclusion that it would be wise for him to sit this one out for fear of incurring a different injury while compensating for his pelvis.

Jess is currently 36^th in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 159 points, which would have qualified him for his 6^th world finals.  With two riders inside the top 35 disqualified, Jess is officially listed as an injured qualifier as he would have replaced either of them if healthy enough to do so.  In just 4 events, Jess rode 4 of 11 outs for a 36.40 riding %.  He won 2 rounds and finished 2^nd in Duluth, GA.  2 top 5’s, and 3 top 10 finishes proves once again that if healthy, Jess can compete with the best in the world.

Cooper Davis is currently 4^th overall in the 2023 PBR UTB world standings with 645.50 points and he has qualified for his eighth PBR World Finals; winning his lone World Championship in 2016, and winning the Finals event in 2015.  In 20 events (18 regular tour stops and 2 – 15/15 Bucking Battles) Cooper rode 22 (T – 5^th on tour) of 46 outs for a 47.83 riding %, good for 5^th on tour.  He won 2 UTB events (T – 2^nd on tour, St. Louis, Billings), has 4 round wins, T – 4^th and he spent two weeks of the season ranked #1 in the world.  Three top 5, and nine top 10 finishes has Cooper well within reach of his second world title.

Cooper was held out of the last three events after suffering a lower inner thigh strain of his Gracilis muscle where it attaches to the inner knee.  The injury, which came on his bull in the Billings event championship round will not hold him back for the Finals event.

Kaique Pacheco’s first post-surgery appointment was last week with Dr. Tandy Freeman where it was determined that Kaique will not compete at the World Finals event.  There is just too much trauma to manage this soon after surgery.  It is not the decision he wanted, but it is the best one for Kaique at the moment.  Too many things can go wrong; just getting out of the chutes, then having the strength to squeeze the bull with his legs, getting off the bull and hitting the dirt, then trying to “get away” from the bull on his hands and knees in the dirt are all concerns that could potentially put others in danger.

In Kaique’s own words, “please apologize to all of my sponsors for me.  This is not what I wanted, I am very sad but it is the best option for me now, and I trust God’s plans”.

His first appointment with his surgeon Dr. Jones was today in Dallas, where they removed the bandages and took X – rays that revealed everything is good and healing as expected.  He can start physiotherapy now using bands to start mobility exercises for his leg, knee and foot.  His next appointment is 4 weeks from now in which they will take more X – Rays, and hopefully then he can start putting weight on his foot.  He has been instructed to keep using crutches at all times for the next 4 weeks.

Kaique was officially ruled out of competition today, and he does so ranked first in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 980 points and he has qualified – injured for his 8^th career PBR UTB World Finals.  In 25 events (21 regular tour stops and 4 – 15/15 Bucking Battles) Kaique rode 30 (1^st on tour) of 62 outs (1^st on tour) for a 48.40 riding %, which is 3^rd on tour.  He spent the last 6 weeks of the season at the top of the standings, and has remained inside the top 4 of the standings for 16 consecutive weeks.  He won two UTB Events (Duluth and Milwaukee) T – 2^nd, won one 15 / 15 round (Indianapolis, IN), he leads the tour with 14 event championship round qualifications, leads with eight bulls ridden in those rounds, and leads with two of those round wins.  His total of 6 round wins ranks 2^nd, his 3 90+ point rides ranks 3^rd, he rode to 9 top 5 finishes and 11 top 10’s.

Kaique was awarded The Mason Lowe Award for scoring the highest ride score of the UTB season.   93 points aboard Ricky Vaughn at the Indianapolis, IN 15 – 15 (1-28-2023) held up all season as the top score.  In honor of fallen PBR rider Mason Lowe (1993 – 2019), PBR awards the rider with the highest score of the season with The Mason Lowe Award.

Briggs Madsen did not compete in Louisville this past weekend.  He competed at PBR Velocity Tour events in Clovis, CA and Perry, GA where he went a combined 0 for 3.  Briggs remains 57^th in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 40 points.

Eli Vastbinder went 0 for 2 and is currently 25^th in the PBR UTB world finals standings with 233.50 points.

Cooper Davis was a last minute scratch and did not compete in Louisville as he continues to manage a lower inner thigh strain of his Gracilis muscle where it attaches to the inner knee.  Cooper has not lost ground in the PBR UTB world finals standings and remains fourth with 645.50 points.