PBR | 10 rides from 2020 to fire you up for the return of PBR action

PUEBLO, Colo. – Before the PBR went on hiatus, the 2020 season was already turning into one for the record books.

With more lead changes atop the world standings than there were in the entire 2019 regular season, world title contenders Jose Vitor Leme, Jess Lockwood, Joao Ricardo Vieira and Kaique Pacheco were duking it out for the world lead, while relative newcomers like Daylon Swearingen, Colten Jesse and Cole Melancon were establishing themselves as genuine threats.

After more than a month on the sidelines, the PBR will be back this weekend with the Las Vegas Invitational, presented by Union Home Mortgage, at the Lazy E Arena in Oklahoma on April 25-26.

Fans can watch all the action from the Las Vegas Invitational on CBS Sports Network and RidePass on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET, and Sunday LIVE at noon ET.

Need a refresher on the first three months of the season? Read on to relive the Top 10 highest-scoring rides.

1. Ryan Dirteater – 92.75 points on Smooth Over, Iron Cowboy Round 2

Ryan Dirteater had to doctor out of Iron Cowboy after sustaining several thoracic fractures in Round 3, but he made his last qualified ride before his injury count in a big way. Dirteater won Round 2 in Los Angeles with his 92.75-point trip aboard Smooth Over, giving him the highest-scoring ride of the 2020 season thus far.

2. Jess Lockwood – 92.25 points on Big Black, Manchester Invitational championship round

2019 World Champion Jess Lockwood has started 2020 without missing a beat, as he’s currently ranked No. 2 in the world standings. He took the No. 1 ranking for a time with a win at the Manchester Invitational, where he went 3-for-3 with two round wins and two 90-point rides. His 92.25-point trip on Big Black in the championship round is his best so far in 2020.

T3. Jose Vitor Leme – 92 points on Bullseye, Express Ranches Invitational championship round

Just like Lockwood, 2019 world No. 2 Jose Vitor Leme has been hot out of the gate in 2020. Leme is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and he ascended to that spot for the first time this season in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Express Ranches Invitational when he won Round 1. That wasn’t all, though, as Leme went 3-for-3 – including a 92-point ride on Bullseye in the championship round – to win the event.

T3. Joao Ricardo Vieira – 92 points on Foghorn Leghorn, Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic 15/15 Bucking Battle

If there’s one thing for which Joao Ricardo Vieira can be counted on, it’s dominating in California. Vieira went 10-for-10 with two event wins in the Golden State in 2019 and, while he hasn’t been quite as perfect in 2020, kept the momentum in Sacramento with a 15/15 Bucking Battle victory. His 92-point ride on Foghorn Leghorn is the 2013 Rookie of the Year’s highest-scoring ride on the premier series since 2015.

T5. Daylon Swearingen – 91.75 points on I’m Legit Too, U.S. Border Patrol Invitational 15/15 Bucking Battle

In 2019, Daylon Swearingen tied for his first career 15/15 Bucking Battle win. In 2020, he got his first outright victory when he rode I’m Legit Too for 91.75 points in the 15/15 Bucking Battle in St. Louis. Swearingen is currently ranked No. 4 in the world standings.

T5. Daylon Swearingen – 91.75 points on Big Black, Chicago Invitational championship round

Swearingen also notched the first Unleash The Beast event win of his career this season. He went 3-for-3 – including a championship round-winning 91.75-point ride on Big Black – to win the Chicago Invitational, less than two months after winning the 2019 PBR Canada title.

T5. Jess Lockwood – 91.75 points on Lil 2 Train, Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden championship round

If anyone was worrying about a post-world title slump, Jess Lockwood put those fears to rest at the season-opening event in New York City. The newly minted two-time World Champion finished the event third overall, winning the championship round with his 91.75-point ride on Lil 2 Train to put the world on notice once again.

T8. Matt Triplett – 91.5 points on Safety Meeting, U.S. Border Patrol Invitational 15/15 Bucking Battle

Matt Triplett may have finished second to Daylon Swearingen in the 15/15 Bucking Battle in St. Louis, but he was still able to nab his highest-scoring ride of the season, and his highest-scoring ride on the premier series since 2014.

T8. Jess Lockwood – 91.5 points on I’m Legit Too, Caterpillar Classic championship round

Lockwood’s 91.5-point ride on I’m Legit Too in Kansas City, Missouri, is one that, in hindsight, is very bittersweet. It did give Lockwood the championship round win and helped him finish third overall in the event, but on his get-off, he caught a spur and tore his hamstring. He’s since undergone surgery and, while he expects to be back in action this season, will be out of commission for six months.

T10. Jose Vitor Leme – 91.25 points on Smooth Wreck, Chicago Invitational championship round

Even in the earliest days of the season, Leme wasn’t letting Lockwood get too far out of reach. After finishing fifth in the season-opening event in New York City, Leme finished fourth overall in Chicago, ascending to No. 10 in the world standings with his 91.25-point ride on Smooth Wreck in the championship round.

T10. Mauricio Moreira – 91.25 points on Big Black, Gwinnett Invitational championship round

Every few months, a new Brazilian phenom lands in the United States and immediately makes waves in the PBR. Most recently, it was Mauricio Moreira carrying the torch for this legacy. In just the second premier series event of his career, he finished second overall and won two rounds, including the championship round with 91.25 points on Big Black.