Thousand Oaks, CA - #555X
Make: Honda Model: 450X Engine: Honda Engine Builder: Honda Chassis: Honda Transmission: Honda
This 66-year-old veteran racer from Thousand Oaks has established himself as one of SCORE's most accomplished competitors through decades of desert racing excellence. Kaplan's crowning achievement came in 2019 when he conquered the legendary SCORE Baja 1000, capturing the Pro Moto 50 class championship on the grueling 1,000-mile peninsula run that represents the ultimate test of endurance and skill in off-road racing.
Throughout his extensive SCORE career, Kaplan has accumulated an impressive seven SCORE Baja 500 class victories spanning from 1978 through 2016, earning recognition among the sport's elite multi-class champions. His first Baja 500 triumph came in 1978 as part of the legendary Mitch Payton racing team, marking the beginning of a remarkable four-decade racing career that has included victories in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016.
Kaplan's expertise and competitive spirit have made him a sought-after teammate for some of desert racing's most successful operations, including Jim O'Neal's championship-winning Honda 400x program. Racing alongside legends like O'Neal, Tim Withers, and Scott Dunlavey, Kaplan contributed to multiple class championships and helped establish one of the most dominant motorcycle teams in SCORE history, cementing his legacy as a true desert racing icon.
All of the teams in the Pro Moto 40 and Pro Moto 50 classes finished the grueling race this year. Leading the Pro Moto 40 finishers was the 444x team of Jason Trubey with Chad Thornton, Paul Luce, Steve Tichenor, David Gass, Collie Potter, and Stephen Berger. The rain made the course better in some areas but the standing water was difficult,†said Trubey. “The bike was covered in mud for the first two hundred miles. We built a brand new bike so we can make sure to get to the finish. We put it on cruise control and rode our race. Towards the end of my section, the course was the best racecourse I’ve ever driven and the new trail that was cut after the rains were nice wet dirt and I could have ridden over it three more times. It was about as epic as it gets. I appreciate SCORE’s efforts to put on a great race with a different course. We have had a blast this year.†Read More
#52 Overall and #1 in Pro Moto 50