Bore and Stoke Episode 16: Chatting With Baja Legend Johnny Campbell!

Опубликовано 17 декабря 2025, 16:34

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/motorcyc...

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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