Zhangxue Motorcycle Wins WSBK Portugal, Founder Zhang Xue: Chongqing is the ‘Motorcycle Capital’

On March 28 local time, French rider Valentin Debise, riding the 820RR-RS race machine manufactured by Chongqing Zhangxue Motorcycle Industry Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Zhangxue Motorcycle), clinched victory in the SSP (Supersport) category at the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) round in Portugal. This marks the first-ever win for a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer in the SSP category and the first WorldSBK race victory for a Chinese motorcycle brand, breaking the decades-long dominance of European, Japanese, and American brands. The achievement sparked widespread discussion among domestic motorcycle enthusiasts and quickly went viral across Chinese social media platforms.

▲French rider celebrates after winning the WorldSBK Portugal round aboard Zhangxue Motorcycle’s 820RR-RS, holding the Chinese flag. Credit: Zhangxue Motorcycle

At the season opener in Australia in February this year, Zhangxue Motorcycle’s 820RR-RS made its debut, with Valentin Debise securing third place in qualifying. However, during the main races, both Zhangxue bikes encountered technical issues and tire strategy missteps, ultimately finishing 19th and 24th.

In the Portugal round on March 28, Debise started in a chasing position. After a crash by the leading rider, he gradually established a lead and remained unaffected by battles behind him, ultimately taking victory with a commanding margin of 3.685 seconds.

According to industry insider Mr. Zhang, unlike MotoGP, WorldSBK serves as a proving ground for the ultimate performance of production motorcycles. Zhangxue Motorcycle’s victory came in the main race of the World SSP category (600CC to 800CC), where they outperformed internationally renowned brands such as Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati, with a significant margin—a feat widely regarded as exceptionally significant.

Zhang Xue, born in a rural area of Huaihua, Hunan Province, has a storied background. Coming from a modest family, he developed a passion for motorcycles through repair work at a young age. In 2006, at the age of 19, he gained public attention for riding over 100 kilometers through rain to chase a television production crew, an act that ultimately led to an opportunity to join a professional racing team—marking the beginning of his deep involvement in motorcycle racing.

▲Zhang Xue celebrates the championship win. Credit: Zhangxue Motorcycle

In 2013, Zhang Xue moved to Chongqing with just 20,000 RMB, building his initial capital by posting motorcycle modification threads and selling bikes on online forums. In 2017, he co-founded Kayo Motor, growing annual sales from 800 units to 30,000 units. In 2023, Zhang led the Kayo team to compete in the Dakar Rally.

After leaving Kayo, Zhang established Zhangxue Motorcycle in Chongqing in April 2024, naming the company after himself. In September of the same year, he unveiled the brand’s first production motorcycle, the 500RR, at the Chongqing Motorcycle Expo, with the first units delivered in March 2025. At the 2026 brand partner conference, Zhang disclosed that the company achieved a total output value of 750 million RMB in 2025, with R&D investment reaching 69.58 million RMB.

When asked about his choice of Chongqing, Zhang has stated clearly that he moved to the city in 2013 precisely because it is known as the “Motorcycle Capital.” He arrived knowing no one, but found that a single motorcycle parts market in the city offered every component needed to build a motorcycle.

▲Zhang Xue tears up as he watches the victory live. Video screenshot

As the cradle of China’s motorcycle industry, Chongqing is home to more than 40 complete vehicle manufacturers and over 400 parts suppliers, boasting an annual production capacity of 10 million motorcycles and 20 million engines. One out of every three motorcycles exported from China is made in Chongqing.

During the 2025 Spring Festival Gala (Year of the Snake), the Chongqing segment featured a striking scene of the Zhangxue Motorcycle 500RR draped in red silk speeding across Qiansimen Bridge—the first time in decades that a motorcycle was showcased on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

▲The Zhangxue Motorcycle 500RR featured in the Chongqing segment of the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Video screenshot

On March 21, 2026, Zhangxue Motorcycle began pre-orders for the 2026 versions of the 500RR and 820RR models. As of March 29, the company told reporters that deposits for the two models had reached 5,543 units within the first 100 hours of pre-orders.

On March 28 local time, as the French rider secured the WorldSBK Portugal round victory aboard a Zhangxue Motorcycle, Zhang Xue watched the live broadcast from Chongqing, moved to tears. Later, he shared on social media: “When you do something not for the outcome, but because you love it, the result might just turn out different.”

Source: Shangyou News
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