Johnny Campbell Racing, Inc (JCR) is officially announcing its withdrawal from SCORE International Baja racing for 2014 For Immediate Release, January 12, 2014 San Clemente, CA: Johnny Campbell Racing, Inc (JCR) the most dominate motorcycle Off-Road racing team to compete in Baja, Mexico, is officially announcing its withdrawal from SCORE International Baja racing for 2014. Honda has enjoyed participating in Baja competition for over 51 years. Within Hondas rich Baja racing history racers like Dave Ekins, Al Baker, Bruce Ogilvie, Chuck Miller, Johnny Campbell, Steve Hengeveld, Robby Bell, Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody, Colton Udall, Timmy Weigand and others have amassed over 23 victories in the most grueling Off-Road race in the world. Johnnys personal record of 11-Overall wins plus 6 as a team owner and manager total an astounding 17-consecutive Baja 1000 victories for Honda, a record that is likely to never be equaled. 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. 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." With absolute respect to all, Johnny Campbell
Gotta wonder that we're hearing the Paul Harvey on this. The top team in a series doesn't call it quits without a lot of good reasons.
Woa big news, thank you for sharing the article! Thinking out loud, what might JCR's departure mean for the future of motorcycle racing in SCORE?
Will be interesting to see what happens. Technically JCR was a contractor to American Honda. Did he lose the contract or did Honda pull the plug?
So... JCR pulls out of SCORE just 2 days after Baja Rally announces that they're rescheduling the event for much later in the year?
Couple of customer spec rally bikes like Laia is running, little shakedown in Baja and a few other events, going rallying. Big change.
Wow this would be sad. Sure sounds like it's just JCR, or they need a new PR guy to write for them. "Johnny Campbell Racing, Inc (JCR) the most dominate motorcycle Off-Road racing team to compete in Baja, Mexico, is officially announcing its withdrawal from SCORE International Baja racing for 2014."
This really sux for the Sportsman and non-factory pro Honda riders. The support program Bruce O set up years ago was second to none. Honda's pits and radio relay was awesome support that simply couldn't be obtained by any non-factory (and many factory) teams.
From what I am hearing Honda pulled the plug on JCR. Without factory support there was no way for JCR to afford to race.
No problem Goofy, it sure is going to be interesting to find out the reasons and results of this. Out of all the teams the Honda team has such a deep connection with the series.
I don't know, I've been racing down there since '03 and only used Honda pits once. I've never needed parts or service that Honda would have supplied and there was no great wealth of knowledge available in the pits (don't know the difference between a quick-fill and a dry-break). Baja Pits and Mag 7 were just as good and a lot cheaper, for the price difference you could buy a set of wheels and couple air filters and cages. For guys with no clue on prep, logistics, ect. Bajabound is much more of a valuable resource. Where this does suck is for the fast regular guys (like Mike Johnson or Francisco Septien) who don't have access to a Helo but might find themselves opening course. SCARY.