Las Vegas Weekly

November 6, 2009 · 9:38 AM

PBR Photo Gallery: It’s neck-and-neck for top World Finals riders

By Robin Leach

Kody Lostroh won Round 4 of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Nov. 5, 2009.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The battle for world champion has really come down to a neck-and-neck finish between this year’s leader, Kody Lostroh, and his nipping-at-his-spurs challenger J.B. Mauney. As if to demonstrate the season-long rivalry, the two respectful rivals placed first and second last night at the Thomas & Mack Center here.

Kody, 24, of Longmont, Colo., was the only rider with a 90-point ride of the night. North Carolina native J.B. was second with 89 points and an $18,000 check. Only three more rounds remain tonight, tomorrow and Sunday before the world champion is hailed. That cowboy gets the ultimate gold belt buckle and a $1 million bonus from Ford Built Tough.

Said Kody: “It feels great to be in the position I’m at. I’ve been at the other end of the ladder, too, so to come from there to here, I’m living a dream.” He won $25,000 last night and beefed up his lead over J.B. by 480 points. Kody has the advantage tonight of selecting his bull, and he’s already chosen Troubadour, who he’s conquered twice before winning event titles.

Kody has the last ride position each night, so he has to watch the other 39 go before him. “I don’t really like going last. I just have to stay relaxed the entire time. It’s really fun when you’re in the first group when the energy level is right up there. I have to stay in the zone all night with a clear mind.”

For the fourth consecutive round, last year’s winner, world champion Guilherme Marchi of Brazil, was bucked from his bull, ending his run for a back-to-back championship, something never achieved in the 16 years of the PBR.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Kody Lostroh won Round 4 of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Nov. 5, 2009.

Sunday’s finals will broadcast live from Las Vegas on NBC. Meantime, our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was nearly face-to-face with the snorting bulls for our new gallery of 40 photos.

In other PBR news, our former UNLV student Justin McBride, who is serving as a color commentator for the nightly Versus coverage, continues with his new singing career. Tonight, he will play the Mizuya Lounge PBR Nightclub at Mandalay Bay, and then tomorrow, he hosts and performs at the Official PBR Party at the Silverton Casino Lodge, with Trent Willmon as a special guest.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Round 4 of the 2009 Professional Bull Riders World Finals at Thomas & Mack Center on Nov. 5, 2009.

Justin, who is a two-time PBR world champion (in 2005 and 2007), won more than $5 million before he switched to a recording studio from bull riding. His debut album is Don’t Let Go, which is obviously the mantra of the cowboys! This year, he performed for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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