Baja/Honda

[firstturn]

Not Penton, but I know a lot of people follow Baja.

After a 50-year run, Honda is officially pulling out of Baja racing, at least for 2014.

The Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR) Team, long affiliated with Honda and its off-road racing program, primarily in Baja, announced today that it is officially withdrawing from SCORE International Baja racing for 2014. This will be the first time in over 50 years that Honda, from the factory level, will not be fielding a team in Baja, which includes the Baja 500 and 1000. During that span, Honda has amassed over 23 Baja victories, including 11 with long-time Baja racer Johnny Campbell. Honda also currently enjoys 17 consecutive wins in the Baja 1000.
Campbell says that the JCR/Honda Team will be taking on a new set of "exciting challenges" that will be announced in the near future.
"With so much success over the past two decades of Baja motorcycle racing, the time has come for us to search out new opportunities and a new set of goals," said Campbell in a release. "JCR/Honda has had an amazing experience working with SCORE International and an even better experience living the Baja dream. The extraordinary fans, the great sponsors and supporters all have made this lifestyle a gift I truly cherish.
"I have been honored to carry on the legacy of my great mentor - the late Bruce Ogilvie - who's passion for Baja and this program has been carried on through the spirit of this team. The biggest thing that has made JCR and Honda so successful in Baja racing is the JCR/Honda race support crews, they are the backbone of this program. Without the selfless sacrifices of the pit captains and crews we would be nowhere. If just one crew person is not in the right place at the right time, the wins and championships would not have been obtainable. I sincerely thank each and everyone who has stood hand in hand with myself and the JCR/Honda team through the decades of dominance. Our new direction will be announced shortly. I have no doubt this will be an amazing year."
The JCR/Honda Team has in the past competed in many other forms of one-off and National Championship events, such as hare and hound, EnduroCross, AMA/District 37 (desert) races and the Glen Helen Endurance Series. The team has also been a big player in the Big 6/West Coast GP Series, which was won by JCR/Honda's Timmy Weigand.


Ron Carbaugh

[brian kirby]

Interesting.

Brian

[firstturn]

An update....


Here it is ! The New Direction for JCR Honda. Good Luck , Ride On !

or Immediate Release, January 14, 2014

San Clemente, CA:

JCR/Honda is excited to announce a multiyear partnership with American Honda to compete in the United States largest and most prestigious Off-Road racing series, the Grand National Cross Country series known as the GNCC. With this bold move from American Honda the statement is clear that it is moving forward in Off-Road motorcycle racing here in the US.

"I am ecstatic for this opportunity with JCR/Honda. American Honda and JCR have such a rich and successful heritage in racing together and words can't describe how thankful and excited I am for this opportunity to go GNCC Racing in 2014 as a part of their continuing Off-Road racing efforts." -- Chris Bach

"I am very excited for the new direction and new challenges. I have always admired GNCC's, from the professionalism of the series directors, the extraordinary attendance at each round, the high levels of media exposure, the teams and racers. With Honda's renewed interest in the series, it shows the value and prestige of America's largest Off-Road racing series. I am also excited to announce that we recently signed 2013 #3 GNCC rider Chris Bach. Chris is a fast, young talent with a lot of maturity and is a very methodical racer that fits our program perfectly. We have already begun working with him and are committed to building a successful program. One of the energizing points for me is the opportunity to race in a new atmosphere with new fans at some great venues. I have no doubt that this will be an amazing year. We will be racing the 2014 Honda CRF450R and our goal is to be on the podium and show the GNCC world the capability, durability, handling and performance of the Honda brand." -- Johnny Campbell


Ron Carbaugh

[sixdazed]

Sad to see them leave the desert,but should make GNCC more interesting.They have nothing left to prove in Mexico anyway.Just as a sidenote,a couple of Pearsons (David and Tuffy?!) won BITD Parker 250 by over 10 minutes on a Kawasaki.Those Pearsons are like rabbits in Nevada-there's a bunch of them,all fast...

[t20sl]

It's about time Honda got serious again.  After Scott Summers retired there was a huge void in Honda's program.  With 69 National AMA championship event wins Scott set the mark for all others to try for in Hare Scrambles, GNCC and other events.  His professionalism both in the woods and in the lime light showed real class.  And remember those wins occurred mainly with an overweight under-powered Honda XR600R.  Shows what real talent and extreme physical conditioning can do.  Good luck HONDA!
Ted Atkinson