The early part of the 2010 BFTS season has been favorable to the Express Sports Agency bull riders. Two events in California have given Valdiron de Oliviera, Guilherme Marchi, Robson Palermo and Travis Briscoe spots in the top six in the BFTS standings.

Travis Briscoe has been the hottest rider on the BFTS Tour in 2010 covering 12 of his last 13 bulls. In the first round of the Sacramento Invitational, he covered Flying U's Bring It for an 88.5 and the round win. He would follow that with scored rides in the second and championship rounds. Briscoe would wind up third in the event.

At the Tecate Light Invitational in Anaheim last weekend, it was déjà vu all over again for Briscoe. He would cover another Flying U bull, Hawaiian Ivory for a 90.5 and the first round win. He had his consecutive rides streak snapped at nine with a buck off of Marmaduke in the second round. Instead of getting down on himself, Briscoe recovered with scored rides in the third and championship rounds to finish sixth in the event.

By virtue of his hot riding streak and finishes in the top six in Sacramento and Anaheim, Briscoe has vaulted to the #1 position in the BFTS rankings.

Rivaling Briscoe for his hot riding streak is Valdiron de Oliviera. He is as "sticky" as they come and he proved as much in Anaheim, covering each of his four bulls on the weekend. His consistent riding earned him a third place finish at the Tecate Light Invitational, his fourth finish inside top five this season out of five events.

For the season, de Oliviera has covered 14 of his 18 outs and appeared in the championship round at each of the five events this season. His worst finish at an event this season was an 11th place finish in New York. He currently rests third in the BFTS standings.

Guilherme Marchi has been a feast-or-famine rider over the last two weeks. A pedestrian 79 was all he could muster in Sacramento. He appeared to be on the same course in Anaheim after a first round buck off. However, the second round belonged to the 2008 PBR World Champion. He covered D&H Cattle's Slinger's Back for an 88 and the round win. The third round provided a scary moment for Marchi. In the chutes, his bull Life Sentence was being unruly and Marchi appeared to injure his hand. He did not complete the ride. At the advice of the doctors, he will not ride for the next two weeks. Marchi is currently fourth in the BFTS standings.

Robson Palermo made it a sweep of the long rounds for Express Sports Agency riders at the Tecate Light Invitational. His score of 89.25 aboard The Deacon gave him the round win. Robson also earned a scored ride in the second round that was enough to qualify him for the championship round. He would finish in a tie for 12th in the event. Palermo currently sits sixth in the BFTS standings.

Austin Meier, recovering from a wreck at a Touring Pro Division event on January 14 that destroyed his helmet, covered two of his three bulls in Anaheim, narrowly missing the championship round.

The BFTS moves east for the next two events. January 30 - 31, the riders will be in Tampa, Florida for the Tampa Invitational. That is followed February 5 - 6 with the Winston-Salem Invitational presented by Troy Bilt.

For a complete look at the upcoming events for the Express Sports Agency bull riders, follow these links:

Sacramento Invitational


Tecate Light Invitational


Express Sports Agency Riders