The Dream Pursuit of 'Zhang Xue Motorcycle' and the Filial Piety of Quan Hongchan

The success of Zhang Xue Motorcycle has sparked envy within the Chinese Communist Party. (Video screenshot)

[People News] The Chinese brand 'Zhang Xue Motorcycle', which has garnered attention in the World Superbike Championship, announced on its WeChat public account on April 1 that total orders for its 820RR and 500RR motorcycle models have surpassed 10,000 units. Currently, 'Zhang Xue Motorcycle' operates 246 stores across China, covering nearly all provinces.

As the market response has been overwhelmingly positive, 'Zhang Xue Motorcycle' has upheld its commitment to quality. The pre-sale of the high-displacement 820RR model has been well-received by netizens, particularly due to the restriction preventing new drivers with less than one year of experience from making a purchase.

Official Media's Failed Attempt to Claim Credit

On March 28 and 29, during the 2026 World Superbike Championship in Portugal, the Italian Ivan Brothers Racing Team's French rider, Dabis, piloted the Chinese brand 'Zhang Xue Motorcycle' 820RR-RS to victory in two consecutive rounds, marking a historic achievement for Chinese motorcycle manufacturers in WSBK events. The news of this victory excited many Chinese citizens, prompting the official media of the Communist Party to rush in to claim credit. What was meant to be a pinnacle moment for Chinese industrial design and individual effort instead turned into a significant public relations blunder due to the official media's attempt to take credit.

On March 31, Weibo user "Xu Lili Xll," who has 221,000 followers, shared a video on Weibo with the caption: Zhang Xue is very straightforward... In the video, after winning the championship, Zhang Xue was surrounded by reporters for an interview. A female reporter from a state-run media outlet asked: What policies, industrial support, or talent assistance did the Chongqing government provide during your entrepreneurial journey?

Zhang Xue promptly responded, " No, no, not a single cent."

Zhang Xue's remarks left the official media, which was attempting to claim credit for the Communist Party on camera, feeling quite embarrassed.

In fact, a closer look at Zhang Xue's journey to success reveals a quintessential story of pursuing one's dreams.

According to public records, Zhang Xue transitioned from being a motorcycle mechanic to founding Kaiyue Motorcycles in 2017, maintaining a commitment to independent research and development in an environment rife with imitation and assembly during his early years. In 2019, despite shareholder opposition, Zhang Xue developed a large-displacement engine, even at the cost of incurring personal debt. He then led the Kaiyue team to compete in the Dakar Rally and WSBK, using these competitions to validate the performance of their vehicles. In early 2024, under pressure from the board to restrict the R&D budget, Zhang Xue made the decision to start anew, relinquishing a significant equity stake.

In April 2024, Zhang Xue established a motorcycle company named after himself in the Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing. By 2026, the Zhang Xue Motorcycle 820RR three-cylinder racing model was launched.

Throughout this entire process, there was no involvement from the Communist Party government. However, this did not deter the official media from eagerly attempting to take credit and "pick the fruit," although this time their efforts were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the official media were unwilling to let Zhang Xue off the hook.

On April 1, the state-run media outlet "People's Daily" released a commentary titled "Zhang Xue 'Not a Single Cent' Misinterpreted, Government Support is Diverse Empowerment," which criticised that "some self-media have taken Zhang Xue's success out of context, interpreting it as a lone hero narrative" as a narrow perspective. The article asserted that government support is not merely a single "blood transfusion," but rather a multifaceted "empowerment," which includes efforts by the Chongqing government to establish the most comprehensive motorcycle industry chain and the facilitation of element flow in the national unified market, which serves as a foundation for enterprises to take risks and innovate.

Party Media's "Precisely Digging Pits"

In response, some commentators noted that the reason state media is so eager to highlight "government support" is that Zhang Xue's success demonstrates that "without government intervention, Chinese private enterprises can perform even better." The Chinese Communist Party's official media's claims of credit, which seem to be "fabricated out of thin air," are essentially an attempt to obscure the authoritarian system's shortcomings in the realm of innovation, forcibly integrating individual achievements into the narrative of "the rise of a great nation."

The commentary in the "People's Daily" has sparked widespread backlash among netizens, who mockingly remarked that the party media is "precisely digging pits."

Pit One: Where was the government during R&D? During the most challenging phase of the 820 engine development, Zhang Xue encountered financing difficulties and supply chain pressures, and at that time, there was no sign of any so-called "special subsidy."

Pitfall Two: Suppression of Racing Culture. China ranks among the least motorcycle-friendly countries globally. A post by Zhihu user 'Bo Luo Bo Luo Mi' states, 'The Communist Party has imposed bans and restrictions on motorcycles in 214 cities across the country, and motorcycles are forcibly scrapped after 13 years. If you ride a motorcycle in a first-tier city, cameras will catch you, traffic police will stop you, and your friends will think you are breaking the law.' Users have raised questions: 'You don’t even allow us to drive on the roads, and now that you’ve won the championship, you claim it’s because of your support?' 

Pitfall Three: Contrast Effect. Users have drawn comparisons with 'favoured' enterprises (state-owned enterprises) that receive substantial subsidies yet perform poorly on the international stage, humorously noting, 'Those propped up by the government are at the bottom, while those not under government control have won championships.' 

'Bo Luo Bo Luo Mi' highlighted, 'Over the past 30 years, everything this industry has received from the government has been detrimental. The motorcycle ban is negative, the scrapping policy is negative, and the registration restrictions are negative. Zhang Xue's 820RR won the championship in Portugal, but looking back domestically, consumers may find they cannot ride it because many cities do not permit it on the roads.' 

'Zhang Xue's success is a result of the environment. Who is to blame for the struggles of the industry in those 214 cities with motorcycle bans?' 

Additionally, some users sarcastically commented, 'You have used my land, breathed my air, and enjoyed my sunlight; how is that not empowering?' 'This is what it means to live: a blessing.' 'Understood, empowering ≈ picking peaches.'

Concerns have been raised that the official media's "support theory" may be a precursor to assimilation. Historically, once the official media asserts that "success is due to the government," the likely next steps include: local state-owned asset platforms investing, or closely tying Zhang Xue's personal brand to the will of the Party and the state, which would compromise her brand's flexibility. Consequently, a few years down the line, the "Zhang Xue motorcycle" could vanish from the market.

Brainwashing and "Patriotic Mental Illness"

For decades, the Chinese Communist Party's official media has consistently promoted the narrative that "all success is attributed to the wise leadership of the Communist Party" and "everything must be credited to the Communist Party." While this is undeniably shameless and disgraceful, under the strict regulations imposed by the Party, this rhetoric has become the standard response for distinguished individuals across various sectors when engaging with official media.

In 2021, 15-year-old Chinese diver Quan Hongchan won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. During an interview with Party media, she expressed her desire to earn money to help her mother with medical expenses, showcasing a pure and sincere attitude. Quan's filial devotion endeared her to netizens; however, because she did not echo the standard expressions of gratitude typical in Communist Party culture, such as "thank the country, thank the Party," some official media resorted to nationalism to sensationalise her actions, branding her as "unpatriotic."

In August 2024, Quan Hongchan purchased an expensive Apple phone for her mother, and when it was noted that she did not buy a domestic brand, some individuals took to social media to curse her, claiming that "the Olympic champion has been put on trial," which ignited heated discussions online.

Since then, it has become apparent that individuals who have undergone the Communist Party's brainwashing education may develop a "patriotic mental illness" and experience "unexplained hatred."

As of January 2025, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state media announced that Quan Hongchan has become a preparatory member of the CCP. In the future, if Quan Hongchan were to enter the United States and were asked by U.S. Customs officials, 'Are you a member of the CCP?', would she still be able to enter the country without any issues?

(Originally published by People News) △