Zxmoto sets sights on worldssb title after stunning breakout season

What an absolute statement of intent. In their debut season of WorldSSP competition, Zxmoto turned heads across the paddock by rewriting expectations with a blistering campaign that culminated in second place in the championship standings. Speaking at EICMA alongside riders Valentin Debise and Federico Caricasulo, the team pulled back the curtain on a breakout maiden year while teasing the upcoming Zxmoto 820 RR-R machine they hope to homologate for 2027.

For Debise, the speed of the development was nothing short of wild. After bagging six wins and nine podium results during the season, the French rider admitted he initially shocked the crew when he tested the bike in Spain and boldly predicted early success. Looking back, he felt a tinge of regret at missing out on the ultimate crown. As he put it: “The team’s objective was to finish in the top 15, but as soon as I rode the bike, I felt the potential. We tested it in Spain, and at the end, I said to the team, I think I can do something at Phillip Island and they laughed.” He added: “The speed of the evolution was crazy. As a rider, I’m a bit sad we didn’t win the Championship because I thought we could do it, but already second place is great. I’m hungry for more next year, and we have the new bike, so I’m excited. For sure, the goal is to win the Championship, it’s all we can think of.”

On the other side of the garage, Caricasulo navigated a steeper initial learning curve with a machine that did not instantly match his preferred riding style. Yet, the Italian racer dug deep to unlock crucial pace, highlighted by a strong fifth-place finish in Race 1 at Magny-Cours as part of the manufacturer’s first Tissot Superpole 1-2. With a winter of development ahead, he is aiming firmly for the front. “I need to make the step I needed this year during this winter to fight for the top positions,” Caricasulo explained. “2026 was difficult because early on, the bike had characteristics that weren’t perfect for my riding style. We worked throughout the season, things got better and better. With work this winter, we can fight at the top in the first races next season. My goal is to be in the top five, fighting in the front group, and being much closer to Valentin than I was this year.”

Behind the scenes, Team Manager Fabio Evangelista pointed out that the results far exceeded their initial forecasts, noting that their success was built on extreme patience and a strong mutual relationship. Racing Director Jesus Rincon echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the massive milestone of securing dual victories as early as Round 2. Looking ahead, Rincon confirmed their plans to push forward with the homologation of the three-cylinder 820 RR-R, representing a clear step up from the 2026 820RR. Meanwhile, brand founder Zhang Xue outlined an even grander vision for the future, targeting a WorldSBK entry by 2028 and ultimately aiming to conquer all three categories while establishing Zxmoto as the world's top motorcycle brand by 2035.