Biography

At just 18 years old, this National City native has already established himself as a formidable force in SCORE desert racing, demonstrating remarkable maturity and skill beyond his years. His breakout performance came at the 2018 SCORE Baja 500, where he piloted his Honda CRF450X to a impressive 9th place finish in the highly competitive Sportsman Motorcycle class alongside veteran teammates Brian Wipperman, Joshua Wipperman, Mo Martinez, and Pedro Tellez.

What makes Velarde's achievement even more remarkable is how he held his own against seasoned competitors, many with decades of desert racing experience. Completing the grueling 542-mile course in 14:40:46, he finished ahead of several veteran teams and proved that youth and determination can compete with experience in the unforgiving Baja peninsula terrain.

His participation in both the legendary Baja 500 and Baja 1000 demonstrates his commitment to tackling SCORE's most challenging events. Racing alongside international teammates from Mexico and Hawaii, Velarde has gained invaluable experience in team dynamics and race strategy. His ability to maintain competitive pace while managing the physical and mental demands of long-distance desert racing positions him as one of the sport's promising young talents to watch.