Chinese team to make world motocross debut in Shanghai

The Oriental Beauty Valley 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) China Shanghai round will take place at Shanghai International Off-road Circuit from Sept 11 to 13. At a press conference on Sunday, organizers announced that Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Chongqing Junchi Motorcycle (JHL) will enter the premier MXGP class as a factory team for the first time, marking a historic breakthrough for Chinese brands in top-tier global motocross.

As the only Asian leg of the 2026 MXGP season, the event features an upgraded competitive lineup with 33 elite teams and over 90 professional riders from 22 countries and regions, including eight world champions. As China's first domestic factory team, Junchi will compete alongside global motorcycling giants KTM, Yamaha and Honda, opening a new chapter for Chinese motocross.

Xu Jianhao, official race ambassador and Chinese national motocross coach, has been deeply involved in the track project since its construction phase. "It is a fantastic track. First and foremost, it is safe, highly spectator-friendly, and offers plenty of opportunities for riders to challenge themselves," Xu said.

On the home debut of Chinese factory teams, he voiced high expectations: "This is their first appearance on home soil. I hope local teams and riders can deliver strong performances."

On youth development, Xu noted the continuous staging of MXGP in China has built a high-level exchange platform for young talents. "Young riders have made visible progress. Everyone is striving to earn their place on the world stage," he added.

Facilities and spectator services at the Shanghai circuit have been upgraded in advance of the event to facilitate a “daytime professional racing and nighttime trend carnival” format.

An official WeChat mini-program will provide digital services, including ticketing, live streaming and event navigation.