Two-Time PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier Wins Monster Energy Tour’s Toowoomba Invitational to Inch Closer to Historic Third Consecutive National Title

TOOWOOMBA, Queensland – On the heels of a runner-up finish earlier in the afternoon at the Indoor Arena on the Toowoomba Showgrounds, two-time and reigning PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (Clermont, Queensland) earned his third event win of the season, victorious at the PBR Toowoomba Invitational, to decimate No. 1 Lachlan Richardson’s (Gresford, New South Wales) lead atop the national standings, and inch closer to what would be his historic third consecutive national title.

Kleier’s win was highlighted by a Round 1 win, earned compliments of an 85.5-point ride aboard Django (Peter Wallace).

He was unable to remain perfect when Black Tuxedo (Peter Wallace) made quick work of the 22-year-old, besting him in a swift 1.07 seconds in the championship round.

Earning $1,895.25 and 65 national points, Kleier is now within 26.5 points of No. 1 Richardson after entering the event 91.5 points back.

For the second consecutive event, Richardson failed to convert, bucked off by Scene of the Crash (Peter Wallace) in a heart-breaking 7.93 seconds in Round 1, and Bud Buster (JD Bucking Bulls) in 2.01 seconds in the championship round.

Should Kleier once again win the PBR Australia Championship in 2020 he would become the first rider in league history to win the nation’s championship in three consecutive seasons. Additionally, Kleier would be on the precipice of tying David Kennedy (Kyogle, New South Wales) for winningest rider in Australian history. Kennedy is a four-time PBR Australia Champion, winning the title in 2009-2010, 2012 and 2014.

Following the PBR Toowoomba Invitational double-header, two events remain prior to the 2020 PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals on Nov. 20-21 in Townsville, Queensland. At the season-culminating event, the nation’s Top 22 riders will battle it out one final time in an effort to be crowned the 2020 PBR Australia Champion.

Second was 19-year-old sensation Ty Thomson (Mount Walker, Queensland), collecting $1,325.25 and 52 national points.

Tying for his career-best finish, and marking his third Top-5 effort of the season, Thomson reached the silver result compliments of his 84.5-point ride on The Pet (ST Bucking Bulls) in Round 1. He narrowly missed his first-ever win when Jersey Joe (BK Bucking Bulls) brought him down in an ever-close 7.22 seconds in the championship round.

Thomson surged 15 positions in the national standings, climbing from No. 25 to No. 10. He now trails No. 1 Richardson by 444.5 points.

Compliments of his 84-point trip on Sargent Fox (ST Bucking Bulls) in the opening round, Joseph Down (Warrnambool, Victoria) was third, collecting a check for $937.65 and 39 national points.

The rising 20-year-old young gun is now No. 26 in the national standings, surging 15 positions from No. 41. Seeking his career-first qualification to the PBR Australia Grand Finals, Down is now within 10 points of the Top 22 and a berth to the season-culminating event.

As the final rider to record a qualified ride at an event where the bull power was dominant, Lachlan Slade (Tamworth, New South Wales) was fourth.

He parlayed a 72-point ride on Let’s Rock (BK Bucking Bulls) in Round 1 to a $401.85 payday, while having also earned a critical 26 national points.

Slade is now No. 22 in the PBR Australia national standings, on the verge of qualifying for his third consecutive PBR Australia Grand Finals. His third Top-10 finish of the year elevated him five positions after beginning the event No. 27.

Among the standout pen of bovine athletes, Pretty Boy (Peter Wallace) was the high-marked bull of the event. Dispatching Cody Heffernan (Singleton, New South Wales) in 3.14 seconds in Round 1, the impressive bovine was marked a head-turning 44.5 points.

One additional bull posted a score in excess of 44 points. Bucking in the championship round, Razor Sharp (Peter Wallace) was marked 44 points courtesy of his 2.69-second trip with Slade.

Fans can relive all the action for the 2020 PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour’s Toowoomba Invitational on RidePass starting at 8:00 a.m. AEST on Sunday, November8 at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

The PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour is anticipated to next travel to Airlie Beach, Queensland, and Whitsunday Sportspark for the final regular-season event of the year prior to the 2020 PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals, with the 2020 PBR Airlie Beach Invitational on Saturday, November 14. The tour stop will once again feature a double-header competition, with action getting underway at both 1:00 p.m. AEST and 6:00 p.m. AEST. Stay tuned to PBRAustralia.com.au for the latest event information.

PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour – PBR Toowoomba Invitational 2
Toowoomba Showgrounds: Indoor Arena – Toowoomba, Queensland
Event Leaders (Round 1- Round 2-Event Aggregate-Payout-Australian Points)
1. Aaron Kleier, 85.5-0-85.5-$1,895.25-65
2. Ty Thomson, 84.5-0-84.5-$1,325.25-52
3. Joseph Down, 84-0-84-$937.65-39
4. Lachlan Slade, 72-0-72-$401.85-26
Bailey Woodard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Ben Gard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brady Fielder, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brendan Buckholz, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Budd Williamson, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Caiden Sandilands, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Cody Heffernan, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Cameron McLennan, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jack Keats, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jack McArthur, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jackson Gray, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jay Borghero, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Kelsey Pavlou, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Kurt Shephard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Lachlan Richardson, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Lane Mellers, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Lawson Nobbs, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Michael Smith, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Sam Champ, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Sam Woodall, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Zane Hall, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Beau Willis, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brumby Brandenburg, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Bryn Francis, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Dan Ruhland, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brody Woodard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0