Mexican bull rider Jorge Valdiviezo quickly rises to PBR fan favorite

Jorge Valdiviezo has quickly become a fan favorite in his brief Professional Bull Riders career.

Fans at the Las Vegas Village’s main arena jumped out of their seats in approval of Valdiviezo’s Last Cowboy Standing first-round run Friday night.

The Mexican rider conquered his bull, Buffalo Jump, and had fans chanting “Hip, hip, Jorge!”

Jorge Valdiviezo Sr. arguably made the most noise for his son. Jorge Sr. and his wife, Marta, drove six hours from La Mison, Baja California, Mexico, to watch Jorge Jr. compete in Las Vegas.

It was the first time Jorge Sr. attended one of his son’s events in the United States.

“(Friday) was a big day for me,” said Jorge Jr., speaking in Spanish. “They drove just to see me living my dream. It was a very special moment.”

The younger Valdiviezo didn’t disappoint. He posted a score of 88.50, the second best of the first round, and competed in Saturday night’s final.

But Jorge Valdiviezo was bucked off his bull, Bucked Up, to end his Last Cowboy Standing run.

Valdiviezo is the first Mexican on the Built Ford Tough Series, where the PBR’s best 35 riders compete.

Valdiviezo was ranked No. 27 in the world as of Saturday and has made more than $15,000 since making the jump to the BFTS last month.

The 26-year-old was the second Mexican to be part of the PBR in the United States. Gerardo Venegas was the first when he competed on the PBR’s Touring Pro Division in 2003.

“I feel very honored to be at this level, and it’s a great thing and big responsibility,” Valdiviezo said. “I feel proud to represent Mexico in this competition. I’m the only Mexican to do this, and I hope to do this for many years and show youngsters around the world you can do it regardless where you’re from.”

Valdiviezo won every event imaginable in Mexico and decided it was time to chase his dream of riding in the PBR. He moved with his wife, Natalie, and his daughter, Mia, to San Antonio last year.

“It was far from home, but I wanted to be somewhere with a lot of rodeos,” Valdiviezo said. “San Antonio has competitive rodeos. It got me ready for the PBR.”

Valdiviezo quickly made his way up the rankings and made his BFTS debut April 1 during the First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard Invitational in South Dakota.

The Mexican bull rider represented the sixth country in South Dakota, which was the most ever for a PBR event. Along with Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Australia, Canada and New Zealand made up the six nations.

“Everyone has welcomed me,” said Valdiviezo, who placed in the top 20 in three of his first four BFTS competitions. “We all look out for each other. We don’t see each other different because of our flags. It’s a competition, but it’s against the bulls.”

Valdiviezo learned to ride from his father at age 10 in their town of La Mison, which is located near San Diego and the U.S. border.

Valdiviezo thanks the PBR DJ for getting the crowd roaring before one of his rides. The speakers boom with popular Spanish music during Valdiviezo’s encounters with the bulls.

“I like that the PBR tries to promote the Mexican culture,” Valdiviezo said. “The atmosphere and support from the crowd helps me a lot.”

Valdiviezo competed in the Last Cowboy Standing with an ankle sprain and pulled groin.

“You gotta push through,” he said. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to compete in the PBR. You gotta fight. The PBR does a good job taking care of us. I’ll be fine.”

The world’s new No. 1

Brazil’s Kaique Pacheco took home the $100,000 prize after winning the Last Cowboy Standing on Saturday.

Pacheco’s major victory earned him 920 points to leap from seventh to first in the world standings.

The 21-year-old squared off against fellow Brazilian Eduardo Aparecido in the fourth and final round.

Aparecido, who went first, was bucked off his bull, giving Pacheco the opportunity to win the crown.

Pacheco mounted his bull, Little Red Jacket, for eight seconds and scored 88 points during his championship run.

J.B. Mauney, Cooper Davis, Gage Gay, Jess Lockwood, Joao Ricardo Vieira, Fabiano Vieira, Aparecido and Pacheco advanced to the third round.

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow him on Twitter:@gmanzano24