At the first round of the WorldSSP category in the 2026 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) Hungary event, which concluded on May 2, French rider Valentin Debise, representing the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Zhang Xue Motorcycles, secured the championship. On the final lap, he overtook two Yamaha riders.
Subsequently, Zhang Xue, the founder of Zhang Xue Motorcycles, posted on social media: "I say it's impressive, who disagrees?"
Until 1:40 AM Beijing Time on May 3, Zhang Xue, with an IP address showing "Chongqing," continued to post images and text, showcasing the "champion's champagne."
In the earlier qualifying session, riders #53 Valentin Debise and #64 Federico Caricasulo, both under Zhang Xue Motorcycles, participated. Debise qualified sixth, while Caricasulo qualified ninth.
Entering the first race of the event, Debise gradually advanced his position to fourth after the start. During the subsequent laps, several crashes occurred on the track. After the leading rider made a mistake and crashed, Debise moved up to third place.
On the final lap, Debise executed a remarkable comeback, overtaking the two riders ahead and crossing the finish line as the winner.
In a post-race interview, Debise analyzed the dramatic turnaround in the final stage of the race: "I wouldn't say it was particularly dramatic from my perspective. I knew the race on this track would be challenging, but the team kept advising me to be patient. This morning, I wasn't satisfied with the bike's setup, and the team made immediate adjustments."
"During the race, the riders ahead were pushing very hard, so I told myself to maintain my rhythm. I believed their tires wouldn't hold up, and that's exactly what happened. My tire condition was better, so in the end, I was able to find more speed and control the situation. I'm extremely happy to win; I thank my team immensely and also thank Zhang Xue Motorcycles for providing us with an excellent bike."