Townsville 2025: All you need to know about Professional Bull Riding

Supercars

30 Jun

Pro Bull Riding is advertised as the 'Toughest Sport on Dirt,' and it's hard to disagree

3 mins by Supercars.com

2025 Supercars Calendar

Pro Bull Riding is advertised as the 'Toughest Sport on Dirt,' and it's hard to disagree.

PBR Australia puts athletes from Australia, New Zealand, and the world against each other over a full calendar year of bull riding action around the country.

The Monster Energy Tour is the top level of PBR Australia, but there is also the Can-Am Junior Academy that runs alongside the tour, and there is a developmental tour called the Touring Pro Division.

There are also special team events that run throughout the year, with a three-event State of Origin series pitting New South Wales against Queensland in a team tournament, and the Tasman Cup for Australia v New Zealand.

The event at the NTI Townsville 500 is a Tasman Cup event, with the cross-Tasman rivalry that has lit up the Repco Supercars Championship set to spill over from the race track into the bull pen.

How does bull riding work?

The premise of bull riding is simple, you have eight seconds to hold on to your bull with just one hand.

Once the bull is released from the chute, riders must hang on single-handedly for eight seconds, if they let go of the bull rope or touch anything with their free hand before eight seconds, the clock stops and no score is recorded.

Both bulls and riders can receive up to 50 points, with a total of 100 points available per ride, provided they make it to the eight second buzzer, with points combined for every successful attempt.

Bulls receive a score between 0 and 50 regardless of the rider's performance.

Bulls are judged on athleticism and difficulty to ride, including spin, direction changes, kick in the back end, drop in the front end, and body rolls.

The more characteristics displayed, the higher the degree of difficulty.

Riders are judged on how controlled they are during the ride, such as how well they match the bull's movements, how centred they are, and how fluid their movement is. Bonus points can also be awarded for style, demonstrating complete control.

Who are the stars?

Kurt Shephard (Australia)