By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Sun, Nov 9, 2008 (1:30 a.m.)

Finally.

Five years as a professional bull rider might not seem like a long time to wait for a world champion belt, considering many riders never achieve the honor. But after three consecutive years of finishing in second place, Guilherme Marchi’s wait for the spotlight has seemed like a lifetime.

It ended Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in the PBR World Finals with Marchi riding his sixth straight bull and capturing his first world championship.

“I feel like I’m 15 years old,” Marchi said. “I’m feeling very relaxed, finally. Everybody believed in me this year. It feels very good because I’ve tried so hard the last few years.”

Nearly the entire arena floor was filled with Marchi’s family and friends as the Brazilian leaped off another eight-second ride and felt the long awaited feeling of being the world champion. Last year’s champion, Justin McBride, said he had never seen so many Brazilian supporters celebrating in Las Vegas.

“Last year I was the last rider to come out and Justin grabbed me and told me, ‘Next year is your year,’” Marchi said. “And I’ve come out and rode very strong.”

After a disappointing past, Marchi took the bull by the horns this year. He leads the average for the world finals and will set a season record for points accumulated by the time the Built Ford Series ends today. He has ridden a world finals record six straight bulls in a row and still has two rounds to go.

“I’m sure it’s different for everybody,” said McBride, a two-time world champion. “But I think Guilherme and I were a little bit similar trying to get our first ones. At the time, it is the most important thing in the world. It’s what everything has been built up for. Guilherme being so close so many times, he probably feels like the weight of the world’s been lifted off him.”

McBride did well himself Saturday with a round-best 91.75. Sunday will be the last time to see McBride ride in the PBR as he has announced he will retire at the end of this season. Despite that, he says his last finals competition doesn’t feel different to him, yet.

“[Tonight] was just as important as any other round of the last 10 years,” McBride said. “It made it no more important because it was the last time I’ll ride on a Saturday night. I’ve tried my entire career to approach it that every round was the most important thing at the time and tonight was no different.”

Although a big win for McBride was a bonus for PBR fans, the night, along with the $1 million prize, belonged to Marchi. For the new world champion, the weight of the world off your shoulders meant just as much as the money.

“The money you’ll spend very quickly but the buckle you’ll have for life,” Marchi said. “I’m very proud of what I’ve done and I want to come back next year and do it again.”

The last round of the World Finals will begin Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.