Flawless Paulo Ferreira Lima Wins PBR Wheeling

Paulo Ferreira Lima Wins PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Event in Wheeling

Crack World’s Top 50

WHEELING, W.V. – As action wound to a close for the eighth PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Wheeling, West Virginia, Paulo Ferreira Lima (Bezerros, Brazil) emerged the undeniable star of the 2022 edition of the PBR Wheeling Invitational, presented locally by Oglebay. Going a flawless 3-for-3, Lima won the expansion series event inside WesBanco Arena, cracking the Top 50 in the race for the 2022 PBR World Championship.

In Round 1, Lima was one of 12 riders to deliver a score, tying for third when he covered Kenny (Clark View Farms) for 86 points.

The five-time PBR World Finals qualifier then surged to the top of the event leaderboard after tying for the Round 2 win courtesy of an 86.5-point score aboard Buckle Up (Mason Bucking Bulls).

As the last man to leave the chutes in the Mountain State, Lima brought the raucous crowd to its feet when he clinched the golden finish with an 85-point ride on Church Bells (Team Alaska) in the championship round.

Marking his fifth career victory on the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, Lima netted a much-needed 41 world points. After traveling to the event ranked No. 73 in the race for the 2022 PBR World Championship, Lima surged 23 positions in the standings, now ranked No. 50.

As the only other rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brail) was second, netting 26 world points.

Divino punched his ticket to the final round after delivering matching 84.5-point scores in the opening rounds of competition, riding Problems (Lightning Livestock, Inc.) in Round 1 and Body Count (LH Cattle Co./Battles End Bucking Bulls) in Round 2.

Poised, the charismatic Brazilian next readied to go head-to-head with Grey Goose (LH Cattle Co./Battles End Bucking Bulls). Matching the powerful animal athlete jump-for-jump, Divino reached the requisite 8 for an 87.5-point score.

While Divino may have entered WesBanco Arena ranked No. 57 in the world, he is now No. 48, 40.5 points outside of the Top 30 and a seeded position on the elite Unleash The Beast

Third was Alex Marcilio (Macaubal, Brazil).

Marcilio was dominant Friday evening, tying for the Round 1 win after outlasting Baptism By Fire (BMC Bucking Bulls) for an 88-point score.

The 33-year-old’s momentum, however, came to an abrupt halt in Round 2 when he was sent to the dirt by Calico Kickin (Team Alaska) in 5.57 seconds.

Marcilio was quick to rebound, claiming the bronze finish when he delivered the high-marked ride of the event. In the championship round, he matched up with Oreo (Dustin Denning), making the whistle for an unrivaled 89.5 points.

The 2-for-3 effort earned the veteran Brazilian 22.5 world points. He rose from No. 82 to No. 60 in the world standings.

Fourth was Trace Brown (Stephenville, Texas).

Collecting 11.5 world points, Brown’s outing in West Virginia included an 83-point ride on Uncle Henry (TC Bucking Bulls/Elite Bucking Bulls) in Round 1 and an 86.5-point effort aboard Uncle Gangster (Pick-It Hammers) in Round 2.

Brown is now tied for No. 68 in the world, having risen seven positions after beginning the PBR Wheeling Invitational, presented locally by Oglebay, ranked No. 75.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Patterson Starcher (Tonganoxie, Kansas).

Perfect through the opening rounds of competition, Starcher earned a position in the championship round after covering Yippee High Cowboy (Clark View Farms) for 85 points and Ghost In The Darkness (LH Cattle Co./Battles End Bucking Bulls) for 82 points.

Starcher, however, was denied his shot at the event win when he was bested by Perch Trap (TC Bucking Bulls/Elite Bucking Bulls) in 1.94 second in the final round.

The finish earned Starcher five world points, elevating him from No. 78 to No. 75 in the world.

The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Wheeling Invitational, presented locally by Oglebay, was also a stop on the 2022 Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge.

Pick-It Hammers won the performance with 272.74 points courtesy of the trips notched by Uncle Gangster, T-Bone and Up.

Second place was Team Alaska with 272.57 points, while BMC Bucking Bulls was third with 272.18 points. Team Alaska’s roster included Not Yet, Calico Kickin and Church Bells, while the bronze effort from BMC Bucking Bulls was earned courtesy of outs recorded by Baptism By Fire, Black Ice and Lone Survivor.

The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour next travels to Oakland, California, on Saturday, March 26. Action for the PBR TicketSmarter Classic at Oracle Arena gets underway at 7 p.m. PDT.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

PBR Wheeling Invitational, presented locally by Oglebay

WesBanco Arena – Wheeling, West Virginia

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Paulo Ferreira Lima, 86-86.5-85-257.50-41 Points.

2. Lucas Divino, 84.5-84.5-87.5-256.50-26 Points.

3. Alex Marcilio, 88-0-89.5-177.50-22.5 Points.

4. Trace Brown [1], 83-86.5-0-169.50-11.5 Points.

5. Patterson Starcher, 85-82-0-167.00-5 Points.

6. Cody McCandless, 82-84-0-166.00-4 Points.

7. Alisson De Souza, 70.5-83-0-153.50-3 Points.

8. Justin Ethridge, 88-0-0-88.00-5.5 Points.

9. Jake Morinec, 86-0-0-86.00-2.5 Points.

10. Kade Alberty, 0-85.5-0-85.50-3 Points.

11. Grayson Cole, 0-85-0-85.00-2 Points.

12. Dakota Eagleburger, 84.5-0-0-84.50-1 Points.

13. Michael Lane, 84-0-0-84.00

14. Quentin Vaught, 82.5-0-0-82.50

15. Ueberson Duarte, 0-81-0-81.00

Fernando Henrique Novais, 0-0-0-0.00

Venn Johns, 0-0-0-0.00

Trace Brown [2], 0-0-0-0.00

Caden Bunch, 0-0-0-0.00

Colt Robinson, 0-0-0-0.00

Matt Allgood, 0-0-0-0.00

Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0.00

Tylor Cabe, 0-0-0-0.00

Brandon Chambers, 0-0-0-0.00

Carlos Garcia, 0-0-0-0.00

Victor Soares, 0-0-0-0.00

Tristen Marshall, 0-0-0-0.00

Alex Jenks, 0-0-0-0.00

Kyle Jones, 0-0-0-0.00

Eli Byler, 0-0-0-0.00

Eduardo de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0.00

Josh Steele, 0-0-0-0.00

Keith Hall, 0-0-0-0.00

Devon Weaver, 0-0-0-0.00

Matt Oliver, 0-0-0-0.00

Buddy Asher, 0-0-0-0.00

Eder Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00

Adrian Stackhouse, 0-0-0-0.00

Andrew Decker, 0-0-0-0.00

Perry Schrock, 0-0-0-0.00

Eric Spence, 0-0-0-0.00

Michael Phillips, 0-0-0-0.00

Christian Cox, 0-0-0-0.00

Ted Flora, 0-0-0-0.00

Jeremy Beley, 0-0-0-0.00