A roaring crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, witnessed a masterclass in bull riding Saturday night as Brazil’s Jose Vitor Leme showcased why he’s a serious contender in the 2025 PBR World Championship race. Delivering flawless performances in both rounds of the night, Leme went 2-for-2 and rocketed from sixth to fourth in the overall standings.
Already riding a wave of momentum after sweeping the Eliminations phase in Fort Worth the previous weekend, Leme has now conquered all six bulls he’s faced in the World Finals so far. With this kind of consistency, he’s positioning himself for a historic third world title—a feat only achieved by legends Adriano Moraes and Silvano Alves.
Leme, a key rider for the Austin Gamblers in the PBR Teams series, opened the night by taming Ugly This of McCoy Rodeo for 88.75 points, claiming the top score in Round 1. He elevated the energy even more in Round 2, notching the first 90-point ride of the championship on Oyster Creek Brawler, earning 90.5 points.
Along with a $150,166.67 payout, Leme gathered 177 vital Unleash The Beast points, putting him just 446 points behind the current leader, Dalton Kasel of Texas.
With Championship Sunday still to come, up to 578 points remain available—400 for the event winner, 80 per round, plus ride scores—leaving the title race wide open.
While Leme soared, his main rivals faltered. Kasel, representing the Austin Gamblers, fell short in both rounds—bucked off by DirtyBru at 7.3 seconds and Hunting Trip at 7.7 seconds. Brady Fielder, riding for the Texas Rattlers, also went scoreless, coming off Magic Hunter in under two seconds and Nightmare in just over three.
John Crimber of Decatur, Texas, currently ranked third overall, was the only one among the top three to post a qualified ride. His 88.25-point effort aboard July tied for third in Round 1. However, Miller Time cut his momentum short in Round 2, tossing him at the 6.07-second mark. Crimber picked up 42 points and now trails Kasel by 434.
Only three riders managed to ride both bulls on Saturday. One was Leme; the others were Alan de Souza and Paulo Eduardo Rossetto. De Souza stayed on Snap Chatter for 85.25 and Hoobastank for 87, pushing him from 17th to 15th in the standings with 64 points gained.
Rossetto, riding for Missouri Thunder, scored 74.75 on Plowboy and 84.75 on Pay Pal, giving him 44 points and moving him up a spot to seventh overall—648.75 points off the lead.
As the championship heads into its final day, Leme’s perfect streak and rising momentum suggest he’s not just chasing history—he’s ready to rewrite it.
