Robert Gates

Biography

At 75 years old, this Victorville veteran proved that experience and determination know no age limits when he captured the 2017 SCORE Baja 1000 Pro Moto 50 class championship, capping off a remarkable season that also included a second-place finish at the Baja 500. Leading the legendary #549x team alongside co-riders Lou Franco, Jeff Kaplan, Mike Johnson, Bob Johnson, David Potts, Chris Goolsby, Steve Williams, and Doug Smith, Gates battled head-to-head with rival Giovanni Spinali's #510x team throughout the entire 2017 season.

The championship-winning effort at the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 saw Gates and his team complete the grueling 1,134-mile peninsula run from Ensenada to La Paz in 27 hours, 19 minutes, and 46 seconds aboard their Honda CRF450X. According to co-rider Doug Smith, the team's success came from consistent preparation: "We put a team together all year and built a good bike. We got a second place in San Felipe and the Baja 500 so for the 1000 we had to bring it home first to win the championship."

Gates' triumph exemplifies the enduring spirit of SCORE desert racing, where age becomes just another obstacle to overcome on the path to victory.