Brazilian rider João Paulo Velasco wins 2026 PBR RAM Challenger Series title
The gist
Brazilian bull rider João Paulo Velasco, 21, won the 2026 PBR RAM Challenger Series with 1,295 points.
The series is a proving ground toward PBR's top tours.
How it unfolded
- Nov 5, 2026Chad Blankenship was named the 2026 PBR Teams Golden Clipboard Award winner in Las Vegas, an award honoring the front-office executive or coach who best navigates the league's rules.
- Nov 6, 2026Gabriel Henrique da Silva, 19, won the 2026 PBR RAM Challenger Series Championship event at South Point Arena in Las Vegas in his U.S. debut, with an event aggregate of 174.45 and 274 points.
- Nov 6, 2026João Paulo Velasco, 21, of Paranaita, Brazil, was crowned 2026 PBR RAM Challenger Series Champion with 1,295 points, 115 ahead of runner-up Gabriel Henrique da Silva, on a 47-for-64 (73.44%) season record.
Key terms
- PBR
- International professional bull riding organization and the largest bull riding league in the world.
- aggregate
- A playoff format where the winner is decided by total points or goals scored across two legs.
Source: Wikipedia