Jose Vitor Leme had finished a heartbreaking No. 2 in the world standings in both 2018 and 2019, but it was finally his turn in 2020.

Leme clinched the gold buckle in Round 3 of the 2020 PBR World Finals with a 95.75-point ride on Woopaa, an emphatic end to one of the most dominant seasons in PBR history. The four-time PBR World Finals qualifier finished the 2020 season with 44-for-65 (67.89%), with seven event wins, nine 90-point rides and 16 round wins. Leme failed to earn world points in only four of the 20 Unleash The Beast events at which he competed. He was also one event win away from tying Justin McBride’s all-time record for most event wins in one season (8).

In 2021, Leme is attempting to become only the second rider in PBR history to win back-to-back world titles. Leme’s path to a second gold buckle has been nothing short of sensational. Not only did Leme ride No. 1 YETI World Champion Bull contender Woopaa for 97.75 points, but it was one of a PBR-record 21 90-point rides this year. Leme once again has won seven events, and he has tied a PBR record with 19 round wins on the premier series.

However, Leme’s dominant march to what he hopes to be a second world title hit a speed bump in September when he partially tore his right groin during his event-winning ride on Singin Tears in Newark, New Jersey.