Moved by the young man's persistence, the video crew turned their cameras back on. Zhang did not blow his chance a second time. He executed a series of difficult stunts, including wheelies and riding while lying flat on the seat.

The interview aired on Hunan TV under the title The Wind-Chasing Youth. Following the broadcast, Zhang was scouted by professional racing teams. This marked the end of his days as a grease monkey and the beginning of his career as a professional rider and engineer.

In 2009, he won the bronze medal (Domestic Group) at the National Motorcycle City Stair-Climbing Contest. And in 2011, he earned back-to-back second-place finishes in this national competition.

Mover and shaker

In Chongqing, Zhang's motorcycle dreams became much bigger. With experience and knowledge of riding and engineering, he decided to make his own motorcycles.

In 2013, after Spring Festival, he quit his job and left Hunan for neighboring Chongqing with 20,000 yuan ($2,900) to his name. At the time, he had no specific idea about his next career move.

"The most difficult part is to take the first step," he recalled. "In my hometown, men have to go to work after the 15th day of the first lunar month. Though I had no idea what to do in Chongqing, I had to go."

Boasting the most complete motorcycle industry chain in the country, Chongqing has earned a reputation as the country's "Motorcycle Capital".

The city is home to over 40 vehicle manufacturers and more than 400 parts suppliers, with an annual production capacity of 10 million vehicles and 20 million engines. One in every three motorcycles exported from China is made in Chongqing, according to local authorities.

"You can get any auto part you want in Chongqing and there are plenty of experienced engineers here," Zhang said.

With no local connections or substantial financial resources, he took baby steps in the beginning. He sourced spare parts from local markets to assemble and modify motorcycles, eventually finding buyers by sharing his work on online motorbike communities.

By obsessing over every single bolt on the engine and body and prioritizing user feedback, he transformed from a newcomer into a recognized tech guru in the community. He eventually saved up enough money for a startup company.

In 2017, he co-founded Kove Moto in Chongqing. His team produced several impressive models, including the 500X and 450 Rally. Kove's annual sales skyrocketed from a mere 800 units at the start to 30,000 at its peak, establishing the brand as a leader in China's large-displacement motorcycle market.

In 2023, Kove Moto took part in the Dakar Rally, the world's most famous and grueling off-road endurance race, which covers more than 8,000 km of desert and rough terrain.

They achieved a major milestone: the first-ever "trinity" finish with a Chinese manufacturer, Chinese riders, and Chinese bikes all crossing the finish line.

One year later, because of philosophical differences with his investors, Zhang chose to leave Kove to start his own company. His passion was to focus on R&D to develop motorcycles capable of challenging the world's best.

The fame and fortune he had achieved at Kove meant little to him, he said. "I don't want to be a businessman sitting in meetings. I want to be a hands-on engineer again," he said.

He quickly registered ZXMOTO in the Liangjiang New Area. Zhang wanted absolute control of the brand and a factory dedicated solely to high-performance engineering.

The company debuted its inaugural model, the 500RR, at the 22nd China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition in September 2024. The first deliveries rolled out in March 2025, and by the end of that year, sales had surpassed 25,000 units.

The company reported an output value of 750 million yuan in 2025, with nearly 70 million yuan invested in research and development. It also posted a net loss of about 22.8 million yuan, highlighting the cost of chasing cutting-edge bikes.

Investor interest in ZXMOTO is growing.

Earlier this month, the company completed a Series A funding round, raising 90 million yuan and reaching a post-money valuation of about 1.09 billion yuan.

For 2026, ZXMOTO is targeting annual sales of 60,000 units and output value of 1.8 billion yuan, while nearly doubling its R&D budget to 135 million yuan.

When Zhang graduated from middle school, he told his classmates that his dream was to repair motorcycles.

"Now my dream is to make ZXMOTO a top 10 global (motorcycle) brand in 10 years," he said.