From March 28 to 29, in a definitive shake-up of the motorcycle racing hierarchy, French veteran Valentin Debise steered the Chinese-manufactured ZXMOTO 820RR-RS to two consecutive victories in the World SuperSport (WorldSSP) class during the Superbike World Championship (WSBK).
"It was a very proud moment for me, and also for ZXMOTO and China," Debise exclaimed. "At first, we were looking to get into 15th position. And in the end, we achieve a much better result than expected."
He also recalled his first test ride on a small track in Italy. "The bike felt very natural and easy to ride straight away," Debise explained. "As a rider, you understand it immediately."
He noted that the 820RR-RS's primary advantage lies in its "rideability", allowing a pilot to push to the absolute limit faster than on more temperamental machines.
The synergy behind this success is rooted in a shared spirit between Debise and the company's founder,?Zhang Xue. Both of them spent years in the wings of the industry before this breakout moment.
"What convinced me to join was the passion and the effort they put into building the motorcycle," Debise said, reflecting on his decision to join the project.
Beyond the racetrack, ZXMOTO's strategy involves a tight feedback loop where racing data is directly integrated into improving public production models. This rapid iteration is what Debise believes will be the "game-changer" in the global market.
"I believe Chinese manufacturers are going to take over the world anytime soon," Debise stated. "What I like is the fact that every year you can see that they are improving the bike." He also noted that the Chinese manufacturers' speed and ability to iterate in every single year is something many traditional brands struggle to match.
Despite the historic win, Debise remains grounded, noting that the 820RR-RS is still a "very new model" not yet fully released to the public. He is looking forward to its further development.
Plans are already underway for Debise to visit China to tour the factory and engage with a growing legion of fans. "I've received so many messages from China that I haven't been able to read them all yet," he laughed, adding that he is currently trying to set up a Chinese social media account to connect with the audience.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua, Zhang Xiangjuan, Xu Mian, Ding Xiaoran
Video | Qin Shaolong
Article | Guo Chuhua
Script | Guo Chuhua
Poster | Qin Shaolong
