Home/US Sports

via Imago

via Imago

Could the clash between the Nashville Stampede and the reigning champion Austin Gamblers be a turning point in the history of rodeo? Excitement is building for the much-awaited PBR Team Series Camping World Championship in Las Vegas. This exciting bull-riding battle promises an exhibition of high-stakes competitiveness and adrenaline-fueled action. Gamblers gambit Jose Vitor Leme will be stepping into the dirt group inches away from his third straight win.

“We need to keep working hard to get better and improve ourselves each day,” says Leme. Known to draw attention for his nearing legendary status, the man alone has captivated the internet with a thrilling promise.

?Bull riding champion might repeat history

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Leme first became interested in rodeo when he was 7 years old when he started dabbling with calf riding. He has proven his extraordinary talent and perseverance time and time again over the years, earning him the rightful title of 2022 PBR U.S. team series MVP. A clip from his victory act was shared by @PBR on Twitter(X). The video was captioned, “Jose Vitor Leme has his sights set on becoming a 3X World Champion this season.”

Jose mounted Roc Wit on the second day of the 2023 PBR season achieving his 76th 90-point ride! He broke the previous record established by J.B. Mauney in 2013 by winning 19 rounds this season while Mauney won 15. Leme’s effort won him a whopping $40,575 putting him second after Joao Ricardo Vieira. After a 2022 wrap, he took home the PBR U.S. Team Series MVP title, taking his second world champion title.

via Imago

Reversing course in the UTB regular season in Louisville, Kentucky, Leme was disqualified in the first round but quickly recovered to win the second round with a 90-point ride. His recuperation from injuries he incurred in the 2022 Team Series Championship caused him to miss the first five events of the 2023 Unleash the Beast Series. Leme’s unfortunate injury in New Orleans prevented him from competing in the final UTB events, which caused him to slide to second place in the world championship race despite his excellent 91-point performance on Ivy League in the Championship Round. Being a team-influenced play, how was the Gamblers’ play this season?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Gamblers team-series record so far

With a victory in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in late July, the Austin Gamblers opened the 2023 Team Series. They maintained their winning ways in mid-August winning the Gambler Days tournament in Austin, Texas.? Later, they secured another victory in Anaheim, California. At the home game of their opponents, the Carolina Cowboys recorded yet another noteworthy triumph in late September. Early in October, Leme was named the Team Series Regular-Season MVP for the second year in a row.

READ MORE Video: Non-American Rodeo Sensation Nick Tetz Stuns with 89.5-Point Bull Riding Triumph

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

But the journey they took to win the Team Series Championship ended in a difficult way. The Texas Rattlers faced the Gamblers in the championship round, despite the latter’s outstanding play. Unfortunately, the Gamblers’ winning run came to an end when the Rattlers prevailed and took home the coveted second annual PBR Team Series championship prize. Will the defending champs establish their domination once more and leave the crowd gasping for air, or will the Nashville Stampede be able to overcome the unstoppable Austin Gamblers? Regardless, be prepared for an incredible show of talent!

Watch this story Professional Bull-Riding Witnesses Stunning Feat as Rodeo Father and His Three Sons Get Their Shot at 2023 World Bull Riding Finals