Post by saddletramp on Feb 10, 2009 23:04:44 GMT -5
PUEBLO, Colo. (February 10, 2009) - Jerome Davis knows J.B. Mauney as well as anyone, and even he referred to Mauney’s upcoming matchup with Bones as “a tough call.”
Mauney’s first-ever attempt to ride Bones will take place Friday night in Oklahoma City immediately following Round 1 of the Express Invitational. The outcome will highlight the NBC broadcast on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST.
“It’s hard for me to say,” said Davis, 1995 PRCA World Champion and mentor of Mauney’s. “I think if anybody can do it, he’s got the ability to pull it off.”
Bones is unridden in 13 outs at Built Ford Tough Series events.
The four-year-old, Tom-Teague-owned bull has bucked off Guilherme Marchi three times and Justin McBride twice. Throw in Robson Palermo and Ednei Caminhas, and his victims claim four world titles and a World Finals event title between them.
Unlike the others, Mauney is a left-handed rider.
“The trick seems to be when he makes that big jump forward and comes back to the left,” Davis said. “When he does that, he’s going to be into J.B.’s riding hand and, to me, I think he can get around that corner.”
Two weeks ago, Marchi was expecting Bones to turn back to the left, and was caught off-guard when he came out of the gate and stayed to the right.
Mauney, who is currently riding over 77 percent and is ranked No. 1 in the world, said that no matter who rides Bones, you cannot “set any trap.” Davis added, “I think Bones felt him and that’s where I go back to that bull’s getting a little smarter.
“That’s why he never went the other way. He felt like he had Marchi over there so he just kept coming to the right and (threw) him on off.”
Davis said he still feels Mauney could successfully make the 8-second whistle even if Bones again stays to the right.
Nevertheless, Bones is typically known for leaving the chute slow and then makes a big, powerful jump forward before coming back to his left. In the past, no rider – one in 2007, nine in 2008 and three this season – has made it beyond the first direction change.
“J.B. is really going to have to be up on his rope, and be up on his frontend and not let him get run back,” Davis explained. “If he (doesn’t) let him get run back there’s a chance he can get around that corner. I think if he makes that corner there’s a good chance he’ll ride him.”
Davis added that in spite of the time he and Mauney have spent together in North Carolina, the two have not spoken specifically about Friday’s challenge.
Davis said Mauney, who craves the rankest bull in any given round, knows what he needs to do in order to be successful on Bones, and that the last thing he wants is to interfere with Mauney’s thoughts.
“When they open that gate he’s going to react,” Davis explained, “and his subconscious mind kicks in—you do all your mental work before you get on.”
Mauney will certainly have done his mental work well before he arrives at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Likewise, Davis has made his predication even before his 22-year-old friend has had a chance to leave North Carolina:
“It could go either way,” he said, laughing.
Mauney’s first-ever attempt to ride Bones will take place Friday night in Oklahoma City immediately following Round 1 of the Express Invitational. The outcome will highlight the NBC broadcast on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST.
“It’s hard for me to say,” said Davis, 1995 PRCA World Champion and mentor of Mauney’s. “I think if anybody can do it, he’s got the ability to pull it off.”
Bones is unridden in 13 outs at Built Ford Tough Series events.
The four-year-old, Tom-Teague-owned bull has bucked off Guilherme Marchi three times and Justin McBride twice. Throw in Robson Palermo and Ednei Caminhas, and his victims claim four world titles and a World Finals event title between them.
Unlike the others, Mauney is a left-handed rider.
“The trick seems to be when he makes that big jump forward and comes back to the left,” Davis said. “When he does that, he’s going to be into J.B.’s riding hand and, to me, I think he can get around that corner.”
Two weeks ago, Marchi was expecting Bones to turn back to the left, and was caught off-guard when he came out of the gate and stayed to the right.
Mauney, who is currently riding over 77 percent and is ranked No. 1 in the world, said that no matter who rides Bones, you cannot “set any trap.” Davis added, “I think Bones felt him and that’s where I go back to that bull’s getting a little smarter.
“That’s why he never went the other way. He felt like he had Marchi over there so he just kept coming to the right and (threw) him on off.”
Davis said he still feels Mauney could successfully make the 8-second whistle even if Bones again stays to the right.
Nevertheless, Bones is typically known for leaving the chute slow and then makes a big, powerful jump forward before coming back to his left. In the past, no rider – one in 2007, nine in 2008 and three this season – has made it beyond the first direction change.
“J.B. is really going to have to be up on his rope, and be up on his frontend and not let him get run back,” Davis explained. “If he (doesn’t) let him get run back there’s a chance he can get around that corner. I think if he makes that corner there’s a good chance he’ll ride him.”
Davis added that in spite of the time he and Mauney have spent together in North Carolina, the two have not spoken specifically about Friday’s challenge.
Davis said Mauney, who craves the rankest bull in any given round, knows what he needs to do in order to be successful on Bones, and that the last thing he wants is to interfere with Mauney’s thoughts.
“When they open that gate he’s going to react,” Davis explained, “and his subconscious mind kicks in—you do all your mental work before you get on.”
Mauney will certainly have done his mental work well before he arrives at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Likewise, Davis has made his predication even before his 22-year-old friend has had a chance to leave North Carolina:
“It could go either way,” he said, laughing.