Liangjiang-made motorcycle triumphs at World Superbike Championship

The production line at ZX Moto. [Photo by Wang Jiaxi]

ZX Moto, a motorcycle manufacturer based in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, achieved a historic milestone by winning both races in the WorldSSP category of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) held in Portugal from March 28 to 29.

This marks the first time a Chinese motorcycle brand has secured such a victory. The achievement has driven a surge in demand, with sales of the 820RR model increasing by 200 percent and the 500RR model nearly doubling, said Zhang Xue, founder of ZX Moto.

Zhang's team developed an engine output of 145 horsepower, enabling the company’s motorcycles to outperform leading Japanese brands such as Yamaha, as well as renowned European competitors including MV Agusta and Triumph.

ZX Moto has developed a comprehensive, self-sufficient product lineup, spanning three- and four-cylinder engines from 500cc to 820cc, and has achieved full control over its core technologies. The company invested nearly 70 million yuan ($10 million) in R&D in 2025, with plans to increase this budget to 135 million yuan in 2026.

In 2025, ZX Moto sold over 25,000 units, generating a total output value exceeding 750 million yuan. Liang Xiao, a local official, noted that authorities are crafting tailored financial service solutions to address the company's needs for intellectual property credit and equipment financing leases.

ZX Moto's victory exemplifies the high-quality growth of Chongqing's motorcycle industry. Chongqing produced 7.86 million motorcycles in 2025, accounting for 35.5 percent of China's total production. Of these, 6.11 million units were exported, representing 77.8 percent of the output.