On the evening of September 5, the opening WorldSSP race of the 2026 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) French Round took place at the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit. Chinese manufacturer Zhang Xue Racing achieved a landmark result, with both of its riders locking out the front row of the grid for the first time in the team’s history.
French rider Valentin Debise, who started from pole position, endured a challenging opening phase and slipped as far back as tenth place. However, the 30-year-old mounted a determined comeback through the field, overtaking rival after rival in the latter half of the race to ultimately secure a hard-fought third-place finish on the podium. His teammate, Italian Federico Caricasulo, demonstrated consistent pace throughout the contest and crossed the line in a strong position after starting second on the grid.
This event marked the ninth round of the 2026 WSBK season and the first race following the summer break. Notably, it was the first time ever that a Chinese-backed team had claimed both front-row starting spots in a WorldSSP race, underscoring the rapid progress of Zhang Xue Racing in the fiercely competitive world championship paddock.
Debise’s podium result extended his lead in the WorldSSP riders’ standings, while Caricasulo’s performance reinforced the team’s growing competitiveness on the international stage. The team’s achievement was celebrated by Chinese motorsport fans, as it represented a significant milestone for the country’s motorcycle racing ambitions in a series traditionally dominated by European and Japanese manufacturers.
With the French round now complete, Zhang Xue Racing will shift focus to the upcoming races, aiming to build on this historic front-row lockout and challenge for further podium finishes as the season progresses toward its climax.
