Skyler Howes Joined ZXMoto Factory Rally Team
The veteran rider has signed with ZXMoto to pilot the 450 Rally machine in upcoming international competitions.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Motocycles
Live Poll
Would you follow a new manufacturer's team competing in a championship you usually watch?
Skyler Howes has officially joined the ZXMoto Joyride Factory Rally Team following a three-season tenure with Monster Energy Honda HRC. He is set to make his competitive debut on the new bike at the 2026 Rallye du Maroc alongside teammate Tobias Ebster.
Why it matters
This move marks a significant shift for the ZXMoto rally program as it looks to leverage professional expertise to develop its 450 machine into a front-running contender on the global stage.
The team will field two riders, Howes and Tobias Ebster, for the 2026 Rallye du Maroc. The ZXMoto 450 Rally bike serves as the flagship machine for the program's development goals.
The players
Skyler Howes
He is a professional rally rider from Utah who previously competed for three seasons with the Monster Energy Honda HRC team.
ZXMoto Joyride Factory Rally Team
This racing entity is currently led by the Joyride Race Service and competes in the FIM Supersport World Championship.
Armand Monleon
He is a skilled navigator who secured a second-place finish in the 2025 FIA W2RC World Championship.
Sergi Duran Sanchez
He serves as the team manager responsible for overseeing the ZXMoto rally program.
Tobias Ebster
He is a professional rider joining Skyler Howes to compete on the ZXMoto team at the Rallye du Maroc.
The details
The team structure integrates engineers and the Spain-based Joyride Race Service to translate track data into direct bike improvements. This operational shift aims to bolster the performance of the ZXMoto 450 Rally machine in high-stakes international competition.
Timeline
Armand Monleon finished second in the 2025 FIA W2RC World Championship.
The 2026 Rallye du Maroc is scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026.
The 2026 Rallye du Maroc concludes on October 3, 2026.
Roadmap
The shift toward rally competition signals an effort by ZXMoto to diversify its portfolio beyond the FIM Supersport World Championship. This strategy reflects a broader trend among manufacturers to utilize rally racing as a high-visibility platform for testing and developing new off-road hardware.
Fans and potential customers can expect increased visibility for ZXMoto as the brand refines its off-road technology through high-profile international racing. The development of the 450 Rally machine may eventually influence the engineering standards for the company's future consumer dual-sport models.
The takeaway
The addition of an experienced rider like Howes provides ZXMoto with the technical feedback needed to accelerate the maturity of its rally platform. Enthusiasts should watch the upcoming Rallye du Maroc to gauge how these development cycles translate to actual race performance.
Further reading
Stay updated on the latest racing developments by visiting the Motocycles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cycle News.
Live Poll
Would you follow a new manufacturer's team competing in a championship you usually watch?
