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| Photo by Chip Rutan |
The PBR World Finals starts on Wednesday, with Austin Meier in the lead, J.B. Mauney a close second, and the rest of the top-ten pack in contention. In fact, according to the PBR, all of the top 13 riders are mathematically capable of winning the championship. Not likely, but possible by the numbers. But for now, never mind who's going to win, who are you going to keep a special eye on? These are the guys I'm watching out for (feel free to add yours):
Kody Lostroh: He's as good or better than any rider out there, including the front-runners. He would be a front-runner himself had he not left the tour for several months to have shoulder and elbow surgeries. Now he's fresh, he's not tired, he's not injured, and he just looks perfect. Watch him score a lot of points next week. He can't win the season title, but he could win the Finals. Current number in the standings: 25
Silvano Alves: He would be running away with this thing if he'd been on the tour for the entire season. As it is, he began riding in the Built Ford Tough Series only half way through the season and he's still managed to make it to 12th in the standings. He looks effortless on a bull. Current number in the standings: 12
Robson Palermo: A couple of months ago I'm pretty sure I had written him off. I had him sliding out of the top ten and being sidelined by injuries. But Robson has had a resurgence in the past few weeks. Suddenly he has been riding like he can. He looks very strong. If he can string a bunch of rides together, he is someone who could take home some points and some money. Current number in the standings: 7
Chris Shivers: I know, people make fun of me for this, and he can't win the title and he won't win the Finals, but Shivers is a champion twice over and just watch, that champion is going to show up in Las Vegas. Current number in the standings: 20
Travis Briscoe: It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that he is going to ride in the finals, as many times as he's been injured and the amount of time he's had to take off, but when he rides well he's exciting to watch, and I'm hoping he gets a few good ones in during the Finals and ends the year on a positive note. [After I wrote this Travis won the last "Final Five Chase" in New York City. Now that's the way to go into the Finals.] Current number in the standings: 10
Cody Nance: He's streaky, but he has what it takes. When he's in good form he's as good as anyone. He picks tough in the short rounds. I want to see him buckle down and bring it. Current number in the standings: 31
Ben Jones: Ben has been riding well lately, but even better is his attitude, his fortitude, and his gratitude for being there at all. He has a bright and guileless quality to him, no pretense, and he is sweet. It's Ben's year. Not to win the title, but to ride well, and win hearts, and dance. Current number in the standings: 14
