BARRETOS, SP, BRAZIL (August 30, 2009) — Bull riding fans saw an event unlike any other when the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) took their premiere international event, the 2009 World Cup presented by Dickies, to Barretos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 28-30. Twenty-five bull riders, five each from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, were hand-picked by team captains to compete for their respective countries over the three days of competition, where two rounds were held per day.

In front of a sold-out, standing room only crowd, Team USA rode their way to the winner's circle for a second consecutive year as they totaled 1,387.75 points over the three day competition. Their "come from behind" win left them with not only the $50,000 purse and the coveted World Cup title and trophy, but they also garnered bragging rights for another year. The team, captained by 2002 World Finals Event Champion and 1995 PBR Rookie of the Year J.W. Hart (Overbrook, Okla.), consisted of J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) who was the only returning member of the World Cup team who claimed the 2008 title in Mexico; Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas); Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.); Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.); and Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.). Mauney was also named the 2009 World Cup MVP after he scored 439.5 points, the highest in the average out of all twenty-five riders.

During Friday night's rounds one and two, Team Brazil took the early lead after they totaled 431.5 points, leaving them 84 points ahead of Team USA who finished the night with a total of 347.5 points. Behind them was Team Canada with 259.5 points, Team Australia who rode two bulls for 171.25 points, and in fifth place, was Team Mexico who finished the evening without a qualified ride.

Individually, North Carolina superstar Mauney led the average on two bulls with 177.25 points followed closely by Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) with 176 points; 2006 PBR Canada National Champion Scott Schiffner (Strathmore, AB, Canada) who covered both of his bulls for 173.25 points; and Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) with 157.75 points. On Saturday night, Team Brazil and Team USA battled it out with lead changes going back and forth several times throughout the evening's competition. At the end of rounds three and four, Team Brazil still held the lead with a total of 954.25 points and went into Sunday's rounds with one full score more than Team USA who finished with 868 points over four rounds. Team Canada (512.5 points), Team Australia (345.5 points), and Team Mexico (86.75 points) followed them. Mauney continued his lead in the individual average with 351.5 points after covering one more bull than all of the other riders during the first two nights of competition. 2008 World Finals event champion Palermo was sitting in second place with 260.5 points followed closely by fellow Brazilian Nunes with 259.75 points. Trailing them was 2009 Daisy Rookie of the Year contender Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS) who was the lone Aussie to cover any of his bulls on Saturday night. He sat in fourth place with 259.5 points. During Sunday's final and decisive rounds, Team USA came from behind to claim the title with one flight of bulls still left to buck. Oklahoma young gun McConnel sealed the win for the team after taking on his sixth and final bull for 88 points. Following closely behind Team USA was 2009 World Cup host, Team Brazil, who led the competition the majority of the weekend. They totaled 1,217.5 points. Third place went to Team Canada who rode for 1,027 points while Team Australia tallied up 685 points. Rounding out fifth place was Team Mexico who finished the weekend with 173 points. Be sure to tune-in to VERSUS for all of the non-stop action from Barretos, SP, Brazil! The event will air on Saturday, September 5 at 8 p.m. EST and on Sunday, September 6 at 8 p.m. EST. The PBR is the premiere bull riding organization in the world, boasting contestants from the United States, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, and Canada. Its events air weekly on VERSUS, NBC, and FOX, and in recent years, it has been tagged the 'fastest growing sport in the country.'