When French rider Valentin Debise crossed the finish line first at the Portuguese round of the Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP) in late March, Zhang Xue, 39, leaped up, tears streaming down his face. The crowd cheered, hoisting him high.

The motorcycle that carried Debise to victory was from ZXMoto, a brand founded by Zhang Xue. This marked a historic milestone: the first time a Chinese manufacturer won a WorldSSP championship, breaking decades of dominance by European and Japanese giants like Ducati, Yamaha, and Kawasaki.

This groundbreaking event in the global racing world sparked lively discussions on social media about the brand owner's journey from poverty.

ZXMoto rider Valentin Debise celebrates his victory at the Portuguese round of the Supersport World Championship, 3/2026. *Photo: CGTN*

Born in 1987 in a rural area of Hunan province, Zhang Xue grew up in a divorced family. At 14, he dropped out of school and apprenticed at a motorcycle repair shop. By 17, he opened his own repair shop using his saved earnings.

However, Zhang's greatest ambition was to become a professional motorcycle racer. In 2006, the 19-year-old made a bold decision. Despite the rain, Zhang rode his motorcycle, following a local TV crew's vehicle for 100 kilometers on muddy mountain roads. He performed difficult stunts to attract attention until his bike broke down.

Upon reaching the crew, Zhang pleaded for an introduction to a racing team, stating he was willing to "wash, cook, and repair bikes" if accepted. After the program aired, a professional racing team hired him as a mechanic and stunt rider.

Realizing his late start would hinder his professional racing career, Zhang shifted his focus to research and development. In 2013, he and his wife moved to Chongqing, China's motorcycle industry hub, with about 20,000 CNY (approximately 70 million VND) as capital. He bought components, assembled and modified bikes, posted on online forums, and gradually gained recognition, leading to invitations to develop products for domestic motorcycle brands.

In 2017, Zhang Xue co-founded Kove Moto with a partner, focusing on high-performance off-road motorcycles. Kove's pinnacle came in 2023 when Zhang led the team to become the first Chinese representative to participate in and complete the world's toughest race, the Dakar Rally.

Zhang Xue, founder of ZXMoto, gives an interview to CGTN after the WorldSSP victory. *Photo: CGTN*

Despite being at the peak of his fame, in early 2024, Zhang Xue unexpectedly left Kove due to disagreements with investors. He wanted to focus on research and development (R&D), while other shareholders prioritized profit and commercialization. Zhang separated and established a new brand named ZXMoto.

Zhang Xue's technical expertise and relentless work ethic fueled ZXMoto's incredible growth. In 2025, the company produced over 25,000 motorcycles and invested tens of millions of CNY in core research, laying the groundwork for the world-champion bike to emerge just one year later.

Following the victory in Portugal, the video of a 19-year-old Zhang Xue braving the rain to plead for a TV appearance resurfaced online and went viral. The historic impact led to ZXMoto's official store livestream attracting over 1,5 million viewers. The championship-winning 820RR model, priced at 44,000 CNY (approximately 150 million VND), saw an explosion in orders, marking a sweet reward for the man who dedicated his youth to pursuing his dream of speed.

Lam Giang (Source: Sixthtone, SCMP)