Episode Details

On first impression, Zhang Xue doesn't seem to care whether or not people like him.

"I wasn't willing to take any interview," said the squat man with a thick neck, wearing his own brand ZXMOTO biker jacket, at a media briefing on Monday.

Zhang was speaking to dozens of journalists in his company's Chongqing factory after one of his motorcycles made history at the weekend by securing two World Supersport category wins at Portugal's Portimao circuit.

In the first race on Saturday, French rider Valentin Debise piloted Zhang's 820RR-RS bike to a commanding victory margin of 3.685 seconds over established big-name rivals in the Superbike World Championship (WSBK).

Production-based motorcycles race in the series, making it a showcase for manufacturers.

"None of you would be here if it weren't for someone putting in a word for you to be here," he said bluntly. His remarks made many of the assembled media people uncomfortable.

The 39-year-old should have been reveling in the moment and enjoying the public spotlight. But he told the reporters that he just wanted to focus on producing motorcycles and prepare for the next race this month.

The sport has long been dominated by European and Japanese giants, such as Ducati, BMW, and the Japanese "Big Four" of Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

But it took ZXMOTO — short for Zhang Xue Motorcycle — a brand established in April 2024, less than two years to change the status quo.

From a workshop apprentice to the top of the podium, Zhang has inspired millions of Chinese people because of his perseverance, courage, determination and passion for motorcycles.

Humble origins

From the beginning, life dealt Zhang a tough hand.

He was born into a farming family in Mayang county, in Central China's Hunan province, and his parents divorced when he was 10. Located in western Hunan, the county is tucked away in the mountains, a few hours' drive from the famous Zhangjiajie or "Avatar" mountains.

After the divorce, Zhang and his younger sister lived with their grandmother.

At 16, Zhang graduated from middle school. Driven by a near-obsessive passion for motorbikes since childhood, he became an apprentice at a relative's motorcycle repair shop.

During his apprenticeship, he started riding motorbikes seriously. In previous interviews, he recalled practicing on a "beaten-up, eighth-hand" bike along the muddy, narrow paths of his hometown, Tianjiawan village in Mayang.

"Since then, I've ridden every day, and it makes me very happy," he said. "Riding is my only hobby and I can't think of anything else more interesting."

While the self-taught rider from a humble background wanted to be a professional racer, he had no connections in the motorsport world to make his dream come true.

At 19, the young man cleverly decided to reach out to one of the province's most popular TV shows, Evening News, for help. He called the show's hotline repeatedly until one of the journalists agreed to meet him. He asked the reporter to film him riding in the hope a racing team would notice his raw talent.


"I don't want to just show off my skills," he told the journalist. "I don't have money and I don't know anyone. I just want a chance to get exposure so that I can join a professional motorcycle team. Once I am in, I can do anything, fix bikes, cook and clean."

The TV crew was interested in the wi