by By Justin Felisko
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The man atop the Rookie of the Year standings remained the same this weekend, but for the second consecutive week, another rookie rider has surged up the standings.
Current Rookie of the Year leader Cody Jesus (Navajo) won Round 2 of the Caterpillar Classic with a 90-point ride aboard Rising Sun on Sunday afternoon, but it was fellow rookie Lucas Divino leading the 2019 rookie class with a second-place finish overall in Kansas City.
2019 Rookie of the Year Standings
1. Cody Jesus
2. Lucas Divino (-198.33 points)
3. Ezekiel Mitchell (-406.67 points)
4. Alisson de Souza (-409.17 points)
5. Cannon Cravens (-420.83 points)
Divino also moved up to No. 8 in the world standings following his career-best second-place finish.
Divino’s 87-point ride on Sober Sensation in Round 1 is the second-highest ride of his premier series career. He was bucked off by Moto Moto in 2.69 seconds in Round 2.
Jesus (1-for-3) finished in fourth place with 205 world points thanks to his 90 points on Rising Sun.
The 20-year-old leads the rookie class with two 90-point rides, tied for third most in the PBR.
“Coming up short last night made my motor run today a whole lot better,” Jesus said. “And 90 points, can’t get no better than that.”
Cannon Cravens (Cherokee), 1-for-3, finished seventh overall in the event, but his 87.75-point ride on Handsome Jeff had him split second place in Round 2 with Cooper Davis (87.75 points on Medicine Man) and Outlaw (87.75 points on Smooth Over).
“I was excited for that matchup all week whenever I seen the draw. Wish I would’ve got one stuck last night, we’d be set and good, but I’ve got another in the short round,” Cravens, who later bucked off Old Fort Days in the championship round, said.
