Valentin Debise (2nd L) of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
MADRID, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- French rider Valentin Debise of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO finished fifth in the second WorldSSP race at the Pirelli Spanish Round on Sunday, ending the 2026 season as the riders' championship runner-up. ZXMOTO also secured third place in the manufacturers' standings.
Debise had already secured second place in the riders' championship after the previous round in Portugal. Starting Sunday's race from eighth on the grid, he moved into the lead after a collision between Spanish rider Albert Arenas and Britain's Tom Booth-Amos forced both out of the race.
Debise was later overtaken and dropped to fifth. With five laps remaining, the race was stopped by a red flag after Jorge Navarro crashed at Turn 8. As more than two-thirds of the scheduled distance had been completed, the race was declared over, with the final standings determined by the riders' positions at the last timing point.
In its debut WorldSSP season, ZXMOTO claimed six race wins through Debise, who also recorded three third-place finishes. The results mark a strong debut for the Chinese manufacturer in the international championship. ■
Valentin Debise (L) of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory prepares to compete before the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise (3rd L) of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise (R) of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory prepares to compete before the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory prepares to compete before the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
Valentin Debise (1st R) of EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory competes during the Race 2 of WorldSSP at the FIM Supersport World Championship Spanish Round in Jerez, Spain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)