Sorry to disappoint everyone, but Skyler Howes is not racing this year’s Baja 1000 on his 2002 Honda XR650R with a dream team of Johnny Campbell, Ricky Brabec, Robby Bell, Kendall Norman, and Steve Hengeveld.

That doesn’t mean it’ll never happen, though. While 2025 is out of the question, Howes is open to doing it “maybe in the future” and said he’s “just getting the idea planted” for now.

The successor to the XR600R, the XR650R was—and arguably still is—Honda’s desert racing crown jewel. It features a powerful liquid-cooled 649cc engine and custom-built suspension perfect for Baja California’s environment, yet is still fairly light with the engine weighing in at just 88 pounds (compared to the 98 lbs of the XR600), an even lighter aluminum frame, and a total dry weight of 293 lbs. Campbell and Hengeveld rode the XR650R to dominance at the Baja 1000 with seven straight overall victories. It was eventually replaced by the even more lightweight CRF450X, which continues to be used today and won the latest 1000.

Howes, a Honda W2RC rider, acquired the XR650R in spring 2024. It was a long building process due to the difficulty in obtaining certain parts, but the help of those like Campbell and other partners were invaluable to the project.

Many components were new additions like a replica light system courtesy of Campbell’s JCR Honda, the Pro Circuit T-4 exhaust, IMS fuel tank, Scotts steering damper, Twin Air filters, bib mousses and tires from Pirelli, and a seat cover bought from eBay. Otherwise, everything else like its main organs and veins came directly from Honda.

Compared to his usual Honda CRF450 Rally, Howes noted it is “much slower and just about the same weight” but “super plush and comfy”.

Campbell, an 11-time Baja 1000 champion and longtime Honda partner, teased that he ought to race again as Howes’ teammate on the 650. Norman and Hengeveld, both with eight wins apiece, were in favor as was Howes’ W2RC teammate and twice Dakar Rally winner Brabec.

Howes last raced the Baja 1000 in 2017, where he was co-rider for Garrett Poucher and finished fifth for bikes. He committed to rally raids afterward, eventually becoming a factory rider for Monster Energy HRC. Last week, he concluded the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship with a seventh-place points finish.

Featured image credit: Skyler Howes