Exciting news just hit the rally raid world with the announcement that Skyler Howes will ride for Spain's Joyride Race Service, which is ZXMoto's factory race team. To put that into perspective, Howes threatened to win the Dakar in 2026, and ZXMoto has never even competed in the Dakar, much less shown that it's deserving of such a talented pilot.
ZXMoto was founded by Zhang Xue back in 2024, and if his name sounds familiar, that's because he also founded Kove in 2017. Xue brought Kove to the Dakar, and just the fact that all three riders finished what's arguably the most difficult rally of all time was considered a huge win; since then, the best place a rider has finished aboard a Kove is 15th. So, I have to imagine Xue has Kove firmly in his sights as the brand to beat.
