Chinese Motorcycle Brand Makes History with Dominant Win at WSBK Portugal

In a stunning upset that has sent shockwaves through the world of motorcycle racing, French rider Valentin Debise clinched a commanding victory for the Chinese manufacturer ZX Moto at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) Supersport round in Portugal on March 28.

Riding the newly developed 820RR-RS model, Debise crossed the finish line nearly 4 seconds ahead of the pack, leaving traditional powerhouses Ducati, Yamaha, and Kawasaki in his wake. The win marks a historic breakthrough, making ZX Moto the first Chinese motorcycle brand to secure a victory in the prestigious WorldSBK class.

Behind the historic triumph lies a story of grit that mirrors the underdog victory itself. Zhang Xue, the 39-year-old founder of the eponymous brand, has a journey that began in the impoverished mountains of Huaihua, central China's Hunan Province, according to a report by Red Star News.

Zhang grew up in a crumbling adobe house with a leaking roof. His parents divorced when he was young. At 14, his life changed when he saw a motorcycle. Dropping out of school, he became an apprentice in a repair shop, trading textbooks for grease-stained hands and sleepless nights.

The turning point came in 2006. A 19-year-old Zhang cold-called a local television station, claiming he possessed incredible motorcycle stunts and begging them to film him. Initially, the crew left after witnessing repeated falls. Determined not to let the opportunity slip, Zhang rode over 100 kilometers through the rain to chase down the crew, his sheer persistence moving them to grant him an hour of airtime.

The broadcast led to a contract with a racing team, finally launching his career. But after injuries and financial constraints forced him to realize he would never become a top-tier racer, he pivoted. In 2013, he moved to Chongqing with just a few thousand yuan, selling modified bikes online to build his first capital.

In 2017, he co-founded Kove Moto, growing annual sales from 800 units to 30,000. He later led the brand's factory team to become the first Chinese motorcycle squad to complete the grueling Dakar Rally.

After departing Kove, Zhang founded ZX Moto in Chongqing in April 2024, staking his own name on the venture. At the Chongqing Motorcycle Expo that September, the brand unveiled its first model, the 500RR, which began deliveries in March 2025.

At the company's partner conference earlier this year, Zhang revealed that the brand achieved a total output value of 750 million yuan in 2025, with research and development investments hitting 69.58 million yuan (US$10.07 million).

Back in Chongqing, Zhang watched the historic victory unfold on a live feed. Overwhelmed with emotion, he wept as Debise took the checkered flag.

Shortly after, he took to social media with a reflective post that captured the spirit of his journey: "When you do something not for the outcome, but because you love it, maybe the result really does turn out different."