Jose Vitor Leme Makes PBR History with 95 Career 90-Point Rides
Western News Special — October 29, 2026
On October 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Jose Vitor Leme reached a milestone no rider had achieved in Professional Bull Riders (PBR) history: 95 career rides scored at 90 points or higher. His 90.55-point ride on Moonlight Graham broke Chris Shivers' 14-year-old mark of 94. It also secured the Brazilian rider his third PBR Teams regular-season MVP award.
A record rewritten in two nights
On October 23, Leme tied Shivers' record with a 92.20-point ride aboard Super Trooper. Twenty-four hours later, competing against the Oklahoma Wildcatters, he stayed aboard Moonlight Graham for the required eight seconds and earned 90.55 points. That made 95 career 90-point rides, one more than Shivers.
This is not the record for the highest score on a single ride. The distinction matters: 95 counts outstanding rides accumulated across a career. Leme also holds a place in the sport's single-ride history through his 98.75-point performance on Woopaa in 2021.
What makes a 90-point ride exceptional?
A qualified bull ride requires the rider to remain aboard for eight seconds. Scores out of 100 reflect both the rider's performance and the bull's performance. Reaching 90 points takes more than making the whistle: it demands balance, timing and control against an exceptionally challenging animal athlete.
Doing that 95 times speaks to Leme's consistency as well as his peak performances. That is why surpassing Shivers' long-standing total carries such weight within the sport.
Individual history, team consequences
The October 24 ride helped the Austin Gamblers defeat the Oklahoma Wildcatters 90.55–89.10 and secure a top-three seed and first-round bye for the PBR Teams Championship. It also clinched Leme's third PBR Teams regular-season MVP award, following his wins in 2022 and 2023. He is the first rider to win that honor three times.
According to the PBR's October 27 season review, Leme ended the 2026 regular season with 29 qualified rides in 33 attempts, an 87.88% riding percentage. His historic high scores were supported by exceptional week-to-week reliability.
Next stop: Las Vegas
The PBR Teams Championship is scheduled for November 6–8, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Austin will pursue a second team championship following its 2024 title. As of October 29, those finals have not yet taken place, and their outcome remains unknown.
A three-time individual PBR World Champion, Leme has now added another landmark to his career. The 95-ride record captures a defining contrast of bull riding: a single eight-second performance can change the record books, but reaching this level requires years of sustained excellence.
Sources
• PBR, official event report, October 24, 2026: https://www.pbr.com/news/2026/10/austin-gamblers-edge-oklahoma-9055-8910-clinch-top-three-seed-and-first-round-bye-in-vegas/
• PBR, record tied on October 23, 2026: https://www.pbr.com/news/2026/10/jose-vitor-leme-scores-9220-points-ties-chris-shivers-pbr-record-with-94th-90-point-ride
• PBR, season analysis, October 27, 2026: https://www.pbr.com/news/2026/10/the-machine-makes-history-leme-breaks-legendary-record-reclaims-mvp-crown-and-sets-sights-on-vegas/
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