ZXMoto announces rally raid debut with Joyride partnership

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMoto has announced its debut in rally raid racing through the formation of the ‘ZXMOTO Joyride Factory Rally Team’. A partnership with the Spanish-based Joyride Race Service, the team will make its first appearance at the Morocco Rally, a round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), held from September 28 to October 3.

The team has recruited experienced riders Skyler Howes and Tobias Ebster. Howes, an American rider, previously secured third place at the 2023 Dakar Rally. Ebster, an Austrian rider, is a former W2RC Rally2 class vice-champion. The team aims to use these competitions as a testing ground to refine the ZXMOTO 450 Rally prototype.

ZXMoto was founded in April 2024 by Zhang Xue, the entrepreneur who previously established the Kove brand. Unlike previous entry strategies that focused on unknown riders, ZXMoto is prioritizing experienced professionals to provide technical feedback for motorcycle development.