Greg Gilson releases Baja 1000 recap

April 11, 2026

Greg Gilson probably looked like a madman to everyone when he showed up to Ensenada with a 45-year-old motorcycle.

The enduro veteran and rally raider drew much skepticism from the desert racing community for what seemed like a gimmick, and the doubters were proven correct as he retired after 489 miles because mechanical issues meant he wouldn’t finish in time. Despite the DNF, he won everyone’s hearts with his story and perseverance.

Gilson, who runs a YouTube channel detailing his races with the 1980 Honda XLS 125, released a 55-minute video recap from Baja on Friday.

He intends to return in 2026 with the same bike, though he quips that he might rename it from “War Machine” to “Nuclear Machine” as it’d be an ‘extreme’ version.

“SCORE International, the Americans, and Mexicans would all be very happy if we finish with this XLS,” said Gilson. “We’ve gotten an amazing welcome.

“Gas, gas, gas for Baja 1000 2026.”