Andy Watson / Professional Bull Riders

Guilherme Marchi rides Berger/Struvie’s Cooter for 87.5 points during the third round of the 2008 Worcester Built Ford Tough Series PBR.

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Fri, Oct 31, 2008 (1:50 a.m.)

Andy Watson / Professional Bull Riders

Pistol Robinson rides 4C's/James Sills's Carrillo Cartel for 90 points during the second round of the 2008 Anaheim Built Ford Tough Series PBR.

The Thomas & Mack Center will transform into one of the largest bull riding rings in the world today for the start of the Professional Bull Riders World Finals, which runs through Nov. 8.

The Built Ford Tough Series has invited its top 45 riders to compete over the next several days and will close the 2008 season by crowning this year’s world champion here in Las Vegas.

Brazilian rider Guilherme Marchi enters as a clear favorite to win his first PBR world championship, an honor that’s accompanied by a $1 million bonus. After finishing second for the title the past three years, Marchi has enjoyed the best year of his career with a successful ride percentage of nearly 74 – 10 percent higher than his career average.

“I’m just very happy to be coming in with the lead,” Marchi said. “I was happy with second place but all Brazilian bull riders want to come here and make money and win a world championship.”

March has won five events this year and earned more than $332,000 in prize money.

“Definitely this year he’s a man on a mission,” said fellow rider Pistol Robinson. “There’s no stopping him, he’s going to be world champion. That’s just it. I don’t see anything changing in the finals. If you ride as good and as consistent as he does you’re going to win multiple championships and he almost has. He’s right there every year.”

Although Marchi is in a good position to win, there are plenty of other storylines to look for at this year’s finals. Adriano Morales, the only three-time PBR world champion, and Justin McBride, last year’s world champion, both have announced their retirement this year. These two legends of the sport will bow out of bull riding after this event.

“Adriano was the first [Brazilian] to come here and he helped me come here,” Marchi said. “When I was a young kid in Brazil I used to watch the bull riders and think that’s what I want to do someday. I’m happy for Adriano and McBride, and with them retiring it leaves the door open for younger bull riders.”

In addition to Marchi, fellow Brazilians Valdiron de Oliveira and Renato Nunes come into the finals in second and fifth place, respectively, giving Brazil three riders in the top five.

“When I first came into the league you’d see a handful of Brazilian riders,” said Luke Snyder, who joined the PBR in 2001. “Now they make up dang near half the event. If you go back you just wouldn’t see it like it is now. It really does make the world champion an international champion, which is pretty cool.”

One title still up for grabs is the Rookie of the Year award. Robinson and rookie Reese Cates have been fighting each other all year for the award and will have a final chance to outduel each other at the finals.

Robinson has earned more than $75,000 this year with eight top-10 finishes, while Cates has posted five top-10 finishes while pocketing nearly $81,000.

“We’ve pretty much been trading it back and forth,” Robinson said. “It’s something I want to do -- win the Rookie of the Year award and win a World Finals. I have to just take it one bull at a time though. If I get all worked up I know nothing good will happen.”

In the World Finals it’s possible for anyone to come out of nowhere and grab a season-ending win.

“Of course everyone wants to win be the world champion but sometimes it doesn’t play out the way you want,” said Snyder, who won in 2001. “But it’s always nice to have something to ride for at the end. This is where it all happens, where you can make money and make your dream. We’re all excited to get back here as soon as possible.”