ZXMoto Announced Entry into Superbike World Championship
The Chinese manufacturer plans to debut a custom V5 engine motorcycle in the 2028 racing season.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Motocycles
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ZXMoto founder Zhang Xue announced the team's intention to join the Superbike World Championship by 2028. The company is currently developing a motorcycle powered by a V5 engine, a configuration that is not permitted under current racing rules.
Why it matters
Current FIM Superbike regulations restrict competition to three- or four-cylinder engines up to 1,000 cc or twin-cylinder engines up to 1,200 cc. ZXMoto will need the Superbike Commission to amend its engine configuration rules to allow the V5 design.
Superbike regulations currently limit three- or four-cylinder engines to 1,000 cc, while twin-cylinder units are capped at 1,200 cc. No major shifts in engine displacement rules are expected until 2030.
The players
Zhang Xue
He is the founder of ZXMoto and the public face of the company's entry into international motorcycle racing.
Superbike Commission
This governing body, composed of the FIM, Dorna, and MSMA, maintains and updates the technical regulations for the Superbike World Championship.
The details
Development of the V5 engine project is currently underway in China. To facilitate the entry of the V5 platform, the Superbike Commission—which consists of FIM, Dorna, and MSMA—would need two of its three member bodies to vote in favor of a rule amendment.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: Zhang Xue announced the team's entry plans at Cremona.
2028: Scheduled World Championship debut for ZXMoto.
2030: Earliest expected transition to larger engine displacement.
Roadmap
The potential entry of a V5 engine challenges the established technical standards that have long defined the Superbike World Championship. This move signals a push by emerging manufacturers to innovate beyond the conventional engine architectures currently favored by traditional racing incumbents.
The potential introduction of a new manufacturer into the championship may influence future commercial offerings as teams test proprietary technologies on the track. Enthusiasts should monitor whether these developments eventually lead to the production of high-performance motorcycles available for public sale.
The takeaway
The success of this entry depends entirely on the manufacturer's ability to navigate the complex regulatory approval process governed by international racing bodies. Potential competitors and fans should wait for official commission rulings before assuming the V5 configuration will be permitted on the grid.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Motocycles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GPone.
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