First Ever in China! WorldSBK 2027 Season Finale Set for Shanghai

The Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) has announced that the final round of the 2027 season will be held in Shanghai, China. In recent years, Chinese manufacturers such as Kove, QJMOTOR, and ZXMOTO have emerged in the WorldSBK paddock, and their growing influence is the backdrop for the championship's first-ever event in the country.

2027 WorldSBK Finale to be Held in Shanghai, Fueled by the Rise of Chinese Manufacturers

The 2027 Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) season is set to feature its first-ever race in Shanghai, China, which will also serve as the season finale. The addition of this event to the calendar comes amid a period of increasing presence and success for Chinese manufacturers in the paddock, which has historically been dominated by European and Japanese brands over the past four seasons.

Kove, established in 2017, became the first Chinese manufacturer to compete in the WorldSBK paddock when it entered the WorldSSP300 class with the "321RR" in 2023. Zhou Shenjunjie competed in the first two rounds, becoming the first Chinese rider to race in the WorldSBK paddock. In subsequent rounds, Marc Garcia, the inaugural WorldSSP300 champion, secured an 8th-place finish, earning the first points for a Chinese manufacturer. Kove accumulated a total of 22 points in their debut year. The following year, 2024, Julio Garcia achieved the first podium for a Chinese manufacturer in Race 2 at the Barcelona season opener, and the team secured a total of 8 podiums that year. He clinched their first victory in the final race at Jerez. In 2025, Bennat Fernandez secured 3 wins and a total of 7 podiums, including a victory in Race 2 at Portimão, and became the last rider's champion of WorldSSP300, which concluded after this season, with a dramatic pass on the final corner. Kove is currently competing in the newly established World Sportbike class, with Fernandez's best result this season being 9th place.

Furthermore, in 2024, QJMOTOR began competing in the WorldSSP class with the "SRK 800 RR." In 2025, they expanded to a two-bike team with the addition of Niccolò Tuveri, recording their first WorldSSP points in Most. Raffaele De Rosa finished 9th in Race 1 at Estoril, setting a new team best, and secured 2nd place in the WorldSSP Challenge that year. This season, they have scored points at Magny-Cours, and Bahattin Sofuoğlu has joined De Rosa, moving up from WorldSBK to replace Marcos Ramirez.

Additionally, starting in 2026, ZXMOTO partnered with the renowned Evan Bros. Racing to enter the WorldSSP class. They fielded Valentin Debise and Federico Caricasulo, both former WorldSSP race winners, and secured a front-row start at the season opener in Phillip Island. In the second round at Portimão, Debise demonstrated overwhelming speed to win both races, bringing ZXMOTO their first victory. While consistency remains a challenge, they have achieved 8 podiums (including 6 wins) in 20 races so far. Notably, in the 2026 premier class season, Nicolò Bulega was crowned champion.

Stakeholders Welcome Chinese Grand Prix, Platform to Enhance Domestic Brands' International Competitiveness

Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director, commented on the inaugural event in China: "This is a significant milestone for the championship. We are witnessing the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers across the paddock, and holding a round in Shanghai is a natural next step to foster that relationship." He also expressed enthusiasm for providing Chinese fans with the opportunity to experience the racing and interact with riders and teams, stating, "Together with our local partners, we aim to make the 2027 season finale a memorable one."

Gu Jiqing, Vice President of Shanghai Jiushi (Group) Co., Ltd., stated that the introduction of WorldSBK will further explore an "event + industry" integrated model. By leveraging the international event platform to connect motorcycle brands and racing resources, it will provide a new platform for domestic brands to participate in international competition and showcase their brands. The 2027 Shanghai round is scheduled to take place at the Shanghai International Circuit from October 29th to 31st as the final round of the season (provisional calendar).