by Xinhua writers Zhang Yunlong, Xun Wei, and Zhao Jiantong
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese motorcycle startup's shock double victory at the Superbike World Championship has triggered an unlikely cultural moment: widespread calls for its founder's improbable rise to drive the next installment of one of China's highest-grossing racing film franchises.
ZXMOTO, a Chongqing manufacturer founded just two years ago, claimed back-to-back wins in the WorldSSP class at Portugal's Portimao circuit at the end of March, ending what analysts describe as decades-long dominance of top-tier motorcycle racing by European and Japanese brands.
The victory sent Chinese social media into overdrive -- and not only about motorcycles. Within days, film industry observers and many internet users were debating whether founder Zhang Xue's life story should become the basis for "Pegasus 4," the next film in director Han Han's racing-comedy series. The franchise's third installment has become the world's highest-grossing film so far in 2026, with over 630 million U.S. dollars at the global box office.
"Zhang Xue's true experience fits exactly what today's audiences are looking for -- a new kind of story," Song Fangjin, vice-president of the China Film Literature Society, told Xinhua, adding that he had personally reached out to Han Han to recommend the project.
Zhang's path appears tailor-made for cinema. He left school at 14 to become a motorcycle repair apprentice, later worked as a stunt rider and mechanic, and eventually moved into manufacturing. In 2024, after parting ways with a previous joint venture, he founded his own brand with borrowed money. Within two years, his company developed a model capable of defeating established global competitors, with the engine and critical components all produced domestically.
"When we first arrived in this arena, we were looked down upon," Zhang said. "But when we stood on the top of the podium, they had to look at us again."
The achievement has drawn strong attention beyond China. Portuguese motorcycle expert Rui Belmonte, speaking to Xinhua, called ZXMOTO's double win a "turning point" for Chinese brands in high-performance racing, adding that the result had surprised many in the paddock. "We had never seen a Chinese manufacturer so dominant over a full race weekend," he said.
Han Han confirmed during February roadshow appearances for "Pegasus 3" that a fourth film was planned, but has not publicly addressed calls to incorporate Zhang's biography into it.
Zhang himself said he is open to film adaptation rights, but insisted on a top-tier production team with a strong portfolio. In return, he offered what he called "top-level resources" -- access to real race footage and the use of actual victory podiums for filming.
Actor Yin Zheng, who featured in the "Pegasus" series and is a licensed motorsport competitor, celebrated ZXMOTO's win on Weibo. "That rural boy who once rode a worn-out motorcycle, falling and stalling but never giving up -- he finally put his own bike on top of a world championship podium," Yin wrote.
When Zhang offered to send him a complimentary motorcycle in thanks, Yin declined. "I can't take something for nothing from someone who has given everything to Chinese motorcycling," he replied.
The commercial impact has been equally swift. Orders for ZXMOTO motorcycles have doubled within days of the Portugal victory, Zhang said. The company employs just over 200 engineers, and Zhang identifies research capacity as the primary constraint on further growth.
Observers note that adapting Zhang's story into an established franchise carries its own complexity. Integrating a new protagonist into the "Pegasus" universe -- which has built its identity around actor Shen Teng's character -- would require significant creative recalibration.
But Song, a renowned screenwriter, argued the franchise may itself be due for renewal. "The first three films have told the story of their protagonist pretty completely," he said. "There should be a new hero."
Still, whether Zhang's story makes it onto the screen or not, its cultural impact may already be substantial. For many Chinese viewers, the details matter less than the feeling -- what people take from this, analysts say, is the meaning and value of individual effort, and a renewed confidence in what Chinese manufacturing can achieve. ■
