It's been four years since Guilherme Marchiwon his world title, but the 2008 World Champion still knows how pressure-filled the last month of the season can be leading up to and throughout the World Finals.

Every bull ride is important from January until the end of October, but at no other time in the 10-month long season is that as evident as it is now.

"It's hard for people to stay in the front and fight with the title, fight with the need to ride bulls," Marchi said.

"I can tell you I'm not feeling pressure. I'm No. 4 right now and I just want to win the buckle and win all the money."

Marchi won the Built Ford Tough Series event this past weekend, in Tampa, Fla., to move up from fifth to fourth in the world standings, but he still trails Silvano Alves by 1,829 points.

He's had a Top 10 finish in three of the past four BFTS events, but, more important, eight of his 11 Top 10 finishes this season have been in the Top 5, including two event wins.

Only L.J. Jenkins, who has 10 Top 5 finishes, has more, while Alves, Valdiron de Oliveira and Marchi all have eight.

"You need to be lucky to (draw) great bulls and (draft) the bulls you know you can ride and make points," Marchi said. "In my head, I think, 'You need to ride - no matter what - all the bulls and pick up all the points there for you to be the Champion.'"

Much has been made of the 8,900 points remaining.

This week's Greensboro, N.C., event is worth 900 points, while the 15/15 has a maximum of 300 points for the winner. The remaining BFTS events - Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio - are both worth 1,100. The Finals is worth a total of 5,500 points.

However, between now and the end of the Finals there are only 12 to 18 bulls remaining for the top contenders, which includes the 15/15 Bucking Battle coming up this weekend.

Marchi is still one of the riders with a legitimate outside chance at winning the title, but he can't afford to miss the upcoming 15/15 Bucking Battle the way he did in Tampa, because of bursitis in his riding (right) hand.

In Tampa, despite missing a chance at as many as 300 points, he still rode all three bulls - 10 Penny, Ropin Dreams and Strokin - in the BFTS event.

"When you have good bulls in your draw you come here with another mind," said Marchi, who was confident enough to not only cover two bulls into his hand, but one that went the other direction.

Marchi has the third best average among the Top 10 riders - 56.34 percent - behind only Alves and Oliveira, but has attempted far fewer bulls (16) than Alves, who has ridden 53 of 87 for 60.92 percent average this season.

"I just want to be back in shape, back focusing on my bulls and riding my percentage and I feel great," he concluded. "I can tell you I feel great this week."