Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Motorcycle.com’s Bore and Stoke Podcast, we’re joined by off-road racing legend Johnny Campbell — the backbone of Honda’s Baja program and one of the most influential figures in desert racing history.
From defining what “Honda durability” really means during a 1,000-mile Baja race, to reflecting on 11 straight Baja 1000 victories, Johnny walks us through the evolution of off-road racing, the realities of product development at Honda, and what goes on behind the scenes of real-world durability testing.
We also dig into some classic Baja stories, his transition from racer to team manager and industry leader, the current health of off-road and rally racing, and — just to keep things interesting — his thoughts on the 50th Anniversary Honda Gold Wing.
If you’re into off-road racing, Baja history, motorcycle development, or simply hearing from someone who’s lived every side of the sport, this one’s not to be missed.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to our podcast sponsor, the Honda Gold Wing. If you’re gonna ride, ride something legendary. Learn more about the 50th anniversary of the Honda Gold Wing here: powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/touring/gold-wing?cid=dis_ver_dly&cmpcd=FY26Full_Year_Gold_Wing
00:00 Intro
00:36 Advertisement
01:14 Introducing Johnny Campbell!
03:30 What does Honda durability mean when you’re deep in a 1000-mile race?
05:39 What do you think is the most significant change of rally racing?
10:34 How have riders evolved over the years?
11:52 What do the guys do in the motorhomes now with digital roadbooks?
15:30 If you were to race Baja now, XR650R or CRF450X?
18:35 What’s the most personally meaningful Baja 1000 win?
20:38 When is it OK to piss your pants while racing?
22:10 Give us some wild stories!
26:35 What was the career plan?
30:00 Advertisement
30:45 What skills from racing carried over to team manager? What did you have to learn?
34:50 What are the less glamorous parts of R&D testing?
40:35 What do riders think they need vs what they actually need?
43:30 How’s the health of off-road/Rally racing today?
46:45 Was it easier for you to focus on racing when you were a kid coming up?
49:40 Johnny’s thoughts on the Gold Wing
51:40 Wrap up and Rate Us!
53:35 Advertisement
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Established in 1994, Motorcycle.com is the premier online resource for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts. With hundreds of high quality, detailed video reviews on bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and just about everybody else, it's the best place to go to learn about the latest and greatest two-wheeled creations. There's simply no better resource if you're planning on buying or if you just want to check out some awesome machines.
In this episode of Motorcycle.com’s Bore and Stoke Podcast, we’re joined by off-road racing legend Johnny Campbell — the backbone of Honda’s Baja program and one of the most influential figures in desert racing history.
From defining what “Honda durability” really means during a 1,000-mile Baja race, to reflecting on 11 straight Baja 1000 victories, Johnny walks us through the evolution of off-road racing, the realities of product development at Honda, and what goes on behind the scenes of real-world durability testing.
We also dig into some classic Baja stories, his transition from racer to team manager and industry leader, the current health of off-road and rally racing, and — just to keep things interesting — his thoughts on the 50th Anniversary Honda Gold Wing.
If you’re into off-road racing, Baja history, motorcycle development, or simply hearing from someone who’s lived every side of the sport, this one’s not to be missed.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to our podcast sponsor, the Honda Gold Wing. If you’re gonna ride, ride something legendary. Learn more about the 50th anniversary of the Honda Gold Wing here: powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/touring/gold-wing?cid=dis_ver_dly&cmpcd=FY26Full_Year_Gold_Wing
00:00 Intro
00:36 Advertisement
01:14 Introducing Johnny Campbell!
03:30 What does Honda durability mean when you’re deep in a 1000-mile race?
05:39 What do you think is the most significant change of rally racing?
10:34 How have riders evolved over the years?
11:52 What do the guys do in the motorhomes now with digital roadbooks?
15:30 If you were to race Baja now, XR650R or CRF450X?
18:35 What’s the most personally meaningful Baja 1000 win?
20:38 When is it OK to piss your pants while racing?
22:10 Give us some wild stories!
26:35 What was the career plan?
30:00 Advertisement
30:45 What skills from racing carried over to team manager? What did you have to learn?
34:50 What are the less glamorous parts of R&D testing?
40:35 What do riders think they need vs what they actually need?
43:30 How’s the health of off-road/Rally racing today?
46:45 Was it easier for you to focus on racing when you were a kid coming up?
49:40 Johnny’s thoughts on the Gold Wing
51:40 Wrap up and Rate Us!
53:35 Advertisement
Subscribe!
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Motorcycle
YouTube - youtube.com/Motorcycle
Facebook - facebook.com/MotorcycleCom
Twitter - twitter.com/MotorcycleCom
Web - Motorcycle.com
Established in 1994, Motorcycle.com is the premier online resource for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts. With hundreds of high quality, detailed video reviews on bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and just about everybody else, it's the best place to go to learn about the latest and greatest two-wheeled creations. There's simply no better resource if you're planning on buying or if you just want to check out some awesome machines.
