Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO secured another strong podium finish in Race 1 of the World Supersport (WorldSSP) class at the French round of the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) on Saturday, adding to a successful season that already includes victories in Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy.
French rider Valentin Debise rode ZXMOTO's 820RR-RS to a third place on home soil, while his teammate Federico Caricasulo placed fifth.
The result keeps Debise firmly second in the riders' standings with 225 points, while ZXMOTO remains third in the manufacturers' standings with 227 points. Race 2 of the French round is scheduled for Sunday local time.
Despite the podium finish, Debise expressed slight disappointment post-race, believing the motorcycle had the potential for an even better result. He acknowledged making a mistake in the early stages of the race.
"Ultimately, the positive thing is that, despite the circumstances and the fact that I was far back after making those mistakes, I kept my head down and did my best to fight my way back and finished third," said Debise.
ZXMOTO Team Manager Fabio Evangelista praised the machine's performance, highlighting its parity with established industry giants.
"Our bike, and ZXMOTO with this 820RR, showed that the Chinese products, especially in terms of motorcycles, are at the same level of European or Japanese [products], and maybe better, because we are fighting for the title. That means that the product really performs very well and is a very quality product. This is the feeling of the people in Europe, because [after] talking with many people, I have received from them this kind of feeling," said Evangelista.
Chinese brand ZXMOTO secures another podium finish at WSBK French round
