In a historic breakthrough for Chinese high-end manufacturing, French rider Valentin Debise claimed a double victory at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) in Portimao, Portugal, racing on a machine produced by ZXMOTO -- a brand founded just two years ago by self-taught entrepreneur Zhang Xue.
The achievement marks the first time a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer has reached the top of the podium in one of the world's premier production-based racing series, long dominated by European and Japanese powerhouses like Ducati and Yamaha.
"I'm so excited. I've dreamed about this for so long, it's finally paying off. For the entire upstream and downstream supply chain, for our brand and other domestic manufacturers, I believe this should help boost confidence," said Zhang.
Zhang's path to the pinnacle of motorsport began far from the spotlight. After completing junior high school in a small town in Huaihua City, central China's Hunan Province, he apprenticed as a motorcycle mechanic. Working dawn to dusk, covered in grease, he eventually saved 8,000 yuan (about 1,171 U.S. dollars) to buy his first used motorcycle.
Starting in 2004, Zhang trained relentlessly, more than 200 days a year, driven by a vow to become China's best motorcycle racer.
However, his racing ambitions faced early setbacks. No team was willing to take him on.
Undeterred, Zhang persisted in chasing his dream.
"Even if I don't succeed this time, I'll keep going. Maybe I won't make it next time either, but sooner or later, I will succeed," Zhang said.
At 26, Zhang dedicated himself to motorcycle research and development, driven by the vision of building China's most competitive motorcycle brand.
"I worked on motorcycles at a factory in Zhejiang Province. After a few years there, I headed to Chongqing to start my own business," he said.
In 2017, he co-founded Kove Moto, growing annual sales from 800 to 30,000 units. He launched ZXMOTO in April 2024, and in less than two years, brought the brand to the center of the world stage.
Despite a modest educational background, Zhang has built ZXMOTO with a clear, aggressive roadmap.
"My current goal is to propel ZXMOTO into the global Top 10 within 10 years. Right now, we're ranked among China's Top 8. This year, I'm aiming to break into the Top 3, and within three years, we want to be Number One in China," said Zhang.
Industry observers note that such rapid ascent is unprecedented. Zhang attributes his success to relentless dedication and holistic expertise.
"I take no more than five days off all year. Aside from sleeping and eating, nearly every moment of my day is about motorcycles. I know the entire industrial chain, including every aspect of my company's business. From project initiation, and research and development to procurement, quality control, manufacturing, and after-sales service, I've personally experienced the entire process. I know what it takes to build a great motorcycle," he said.
The Portimao victory represents more than a sporting triumph; it signals a shifting landscape in global manufacturing. For decades, elite motorcycle racing has served as both a marketing platform and a rigorous testing ground for established brands.
ZXMOTO's breakthrough suggests Chinese companies are now competing not just on cost, but on performance, engineering, and innovation.
"In terms of overall manufacturing capability, we are now on par with European and Japanese brands. They have enough experience, but we don't have. [To bridge that gap,] we purchase the world's most advanced products, disassemble and study them, but not to replicate them. Replication has no value. What matters is that our engineers fully comprehend the design philosophy of the engineers who originally created those products," said Zhang.
With the WSBK momentum building and ZXMOTO's development cycles accelerating, the racing world will be watching closely: The small-county mechanic who once dreamed of speed is now writing a new chapter in motorcycle history, one lap at a time.
From county mechanic to global podium: Zhang Xue's high-speed journey with ZXMOTO
