Rossetto’s strong weekend sparks Thunder in PBR Team Series at Honda Center

ANAHEIM – A lot of attention was paid to three-time world champion José Vitor Leme heading into this weekend’s PBR Team Series tour stop at Honda Center.

Paulo Eduardo Rossetto found a way to turn some of that spotlight onto himself.

The 28-year-old Brazilian went 3-for-3 on his rides during the three-day event, helping the Missouri Thunder go 3-0 and extending his qualified ride streak to 13, which ties the Team Series record that Leme had extended during Friday’s opening night.

“It’s amazing,” teammate Macaulie Leather said of Rossetto’s streak. “And to have him on our team, and someone to look up to and push us just as hard – he works harder than anyone – to push us along and make us realize what’s capable when you do put in the work, is unreal.”

Rossetto capped his weekend by scoring an 87.70 aboard Me More Cowboy to kick off the Thunder’s matchup against the Texas Rattlers. The bulls mostly ruled that game, however, bucking off eight of the 10 riders, including all five Rattlers.

Julio Cesar Marques had the other qualified ride (84.15) in the 171.85-0 win by the Thunder.

“It was a really good week,” Marques said. “We worked hard for that.”

Rossetto, who moved within 2.5 points of Leme for the top spot in the Team Series MVP race, will get his next chance at a record 14th consecutive qualified ride when the tour moves to Greensboro, N.C., next weekend.

“I’m wishing him all the success in the world,” Leathers said. “I hope he keeps going on with it.”

Leme extended his qualified ride streak to 13 on Friday with an 86.80 aboard Young Buck, but his streak ended on Saturday when Chewy bucked him off 4.26 seconds into his ride.

Leme started a new streak on Sunday, earning an 88.45 on OptiWize Rescue Story in his 400th PBR ride to help the Austin Gamblers edge the Florida Freedom 262.90-259.35 and also finish 3-0 on the weekend.

The Nashville Stampede was the other team to win all three of its games, keeping it tied for first in the team standings with the Thunder (13-6).

Leme remains two 90-point rides shy of the all-time PBR record of 94 set by Chris Shivers 14 years ago, but hitting that mark was difficult for everybody this weekend.

Only four 90-point rides were awarded at the three-day event, and two went to the Thunder in their opening-round matchup on Friday.

Rossetto earned a 90.75 aboard Fury, and Leather scored a 93.35 on King Tut, which is the highest ride score of the Team Series season.

King Tut came in as the 10th-ranked bull on the Team Series and was the highest-ranked bull in Anaheim.

“He’s one I’ve been wanting to get on for a bit,” Leathers said of King Tut. “I was just happy to capitalize on my opportunity and get the score.”

King Tut got back in the chute on Sunday and had no problem tossing Sandro Batista of the Kansas City Outlaws in 2.11 seconds, the quickest buck off of the final day.

The Outlaws went on to lose to the Stampede, 263.7-88.30, and finished 0-3 for the weekend.

After the Gamblers and the Thunder won their games to finish unbeaten for the weekend, the Arizona Ridge Riders blanked the Oklahoma Wildcatters, 179.15-0, and the New York Mavericks beat the Carolina Cowboys, 266.40-91, to avoid going winless over the weekend.

Thiago Salgado scored all 91 points for the Cowboys for the lone 90-point score on the final day.