Triplett posts no score at PBR event in Billings

BILLINGS — Columbia Falls bull rider Matt Triplett didn’t qualify a ride, but still managed to impress in Friday’s first round of the Professional Bull Riders Stanley Performance in Action Invitational at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

Triplett, the world’s No. 2 ranked bull rider, placed third at Billings’ PBR Built Ford Tough Series last season. He was bucked off Heaven’s Basement in 6.24 seconds on Friday, but looked comfortable and never favored his knee in his first ride back from missing four weeks due to a torn left medial collateral ligament. Heaven’s Basement posted a bull score of 42.75.

Renato Nunes rode the first bull of the night for 89.75 points and held on to the top score to hold the event lead after the first round. World leader Joao Ricardo Vieira increased his lead in the world standings after placing fifth in the round, stretching his lead on Triplett to 325 points.

The event continues today at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live online at www.carbontv.com/pbr-live. Triplett is also scheduled to compete in tonight’s 15/15 Bucking Battle, which starts at 9 p.m.