Honda Racing - Offroad

Kendall
Norman

Kendall Norman Profile Picture

  • Stats
    Residence Santa Barbara, CA
    National # 47
    Began Riding 1988
    First Race 1995
    Training Mountain biking, gym
    Hobbies
    Height 5'10"
    Weight 175
    Marital Status Single

  • Bio

    • By every measure, Johnny Campbell Racing's (JCR) Kendall Norman has "arrived" as one of Off-Road racing's premier competitors. Riding for Honda Off-Road Racing in 2007, he teamed with Robby Bell to win the Baja 250, with Bell and Steve Hengeveld to win the Baja 500, and with Bell, Hengeveld and Campbell to take the overall Baja 1000 win. As an "A" team rider for JCR in 2008, Norman carries the high hopes and expectations of the JCR/Honda team -- on his shoulders.

       

      So far he hasn't disappointed. Despite taking time off in the spring to recover from ACL surgery last fall, Norman returned in time to compete in the 2008 Baja 500 with fellow JCR "A" team rider Bell and the duo took the overall win-- and the third straight 500 for Honda. Norman joined the Honda team in 2004 and was an immediate performer, helping Campbell and Hengeveld win the Baja 1000. In 2006, victories included the 24 Hours of Glen Helen, the San Felipe 250, multiple wins in the District 37 Big 6 GP series, the top spot at the Baja 500 and an impressive runner up at the Baja 1000 with Campbell and Bell. His climb to prominence might swell the head of any young racer seeking acclaim, but the accomplished 24-year-old is quick to point out the support he has received along the way. "Before I started riding for Honda, I was little bit more wild and untamed. I would just go too fast where I didn't need to. Since the time I got a spot on the team, I've learned huge amounts and it's just helped my racing so much. They definitely slowed me down and taught me how to be more consistent. Every day working with those guys and riding with them, you learn something new. You're just constantly learning and the more experience you get, the better off you are. And it seems like as each race goes on, I'm just a little bit better, and I'm learning things a little better. I've definitely learned never to give up!" Sometimes timing is everything and Honda's switch to the CRF450X coincided with Norman's arrival on the team. The match up was ideal. Norman has a strong motocross background and he also spent a good deal of his youth riding the desert with his dad Morris, a desert and enduro enthusiast. "At the end of '05 we had the 450X and we raced in the 24 hours, and it just kept getting better. Come the start of the '06 season, we had a very competitive motorcycle, and we came out of the hole and rode really well. I can't say enough good things about that motorcycle. Ever since we started racing it and learning what it does, we realized it didn't need a lot of work. It's unstoppable." Unstoppable is a good descriptor for Norman as well. And riding for JCR, Norman likes his chances. How will he improve on his winning ways? "You always want to win. But I've always just wanted to perform better. Johnny's full-fledged racing--he's really good, rally experienced. So it's great to be working with him. And to have the Honda CRF450X we've been developing, that's just an awesome machine. If I leave a race and I know I did my very best, I'm happy with myself."

  • Photos
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    The A Team: Kendall Norman will help head up the 2009 JCR Honda racing campaign.

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  • Race History

    •  

      2009

      - 1st SCORE San Felipe 250

       

      2008

      - 3rd WORCS, Wa Round 7

      - 1st Overall Baja 1000

      - 1st Overall Baja 500

      - 9th Endurocross Las Vegas

       

      2007

      - 1st overall, Baja 1000

      - 1st overall, Baja 500

      - 1st overall, San Felipe 250

      - 1st overall, Vegas to Reno

      - 4th overall, Laughlin Hare Scrambles

       

      2006

      - 1st overall, Baja 500

      - 1st overall, San Felipe 250

      - 1st overall, HYR 24 Hours of Glen Helen

      - 2nd overall, Baja 1000

      - 2nd overall, Laughlin Hare Scrambles

      - SCORE Desert Series Overall Motorcycle and Class 22 (Open Pro) Champion

      - AMA National Hare and Hound Series, 3rd overall

       

      2005

      - 2nd overall, Baja 1000

      - 2nd overall, Nevada 1000

      - 2nd overall, Vegas to Reno

      - 4th overall, Laughlin Hare Scrambles

      - 4th overall, Henderson's Terrible 400

      - 3rd overall, Baja 500

      - 3rd overall, Terrible's Town 250

      - 4th Class 22 (Open Pro), San Felipe 250

      - SCORE Desert Series, 3rd Class 22 (Open Pro)

      - Best in the Desert Silver State Series, 2nd Open Pro

       

      2004

      - 1st overall, Baja 1000

      - 1st overall, 6 Hours of Glen Helen

      - 1st overall, Tecate Hare Scrambles

      - 2nd overall, Baja 500

      - 3rd overall, Terrible's Town 250

      - 3rd Open Intermediate, Mammoth Mountain Motocross

      - 4th 250cc Intermediate, Mammoth Mountain Motocross

      - AMA District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series, 1st 125cc Expert

      - AMA District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series, 2nd 250cc Expert

       

      2003

      - AMA Southern California 125cc Motocross Champion

      - AMA National Hare and Hound Series, 2nd 125cc Expert

      - AMA District 37 Desert Series, 2nd 125cc Expert

      - AMA National Hare and Hound Series, 7th overall

©2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - Motorcycle Division