We already know that Chinese bikes are starting to be involved in the MXGP championship, with KOVE and ZXMOTO having factory teams in MXGP in 2027, but be prepared, dozens of Chinese companies are now working hard to also be involved in our sport and do not be surprised to see more racing MXGP within the next two or three years.

With two rounds of MXGP set to be run in China in 2027, I wouldn’t be surprised if in the near future, we actually have some type of Asian GP run, that might include two or three Chinese rounds two or three weeks after each other. Believe me, China are coming and if we don’t jump aboard, we will be missing out on a huge global change in how we look at motocross racing and bikes.

With China a country of 1,412,014,360 and Asia a population of 4,871,028,613, we all know that scooter sales are through the roof in that region and while motocross bikes sales in China might not reach huge numbers, do not be surprised to see these Chinese companies pushing hard into America, Europe and other parts of the world, just as the Japanese did in the 1960s. Their bikes will be cheaper and don't expect them to be of poor quality.

Speaking to motocross veteran and good friend Roger Harvey today, he reminded me of the days when Japanese bikes arrived on the scene in Europe in the mid-50s. Similar to how we looked a Chinese products, these Asian machines were not considered a threat to the might of BSA, Matchless or Triumph, but things changed quickly with companies like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki taking control of the motorcycle market.

“My father had a motorcycle shop back in the 1950s,” Harvey said. “I remember when the Japanese bikes started appearing and everyone was saying these Japanese bikes are not good. They struggled for some time with the quality, but very quickly, the Japanese bikes became much better than the old BSA or Matchless machines. Look at where the Japanese bikes are now, they are the machines people want.”

China Motocross Brands

While there is no definitive, exact number of Chinese companies making motocross and off-road dirt bikes, as the landscape ranges from massive industrial conglomerates to dozens of smaller white-label OEM factories. However, industrial directories list over 100 dirt bike and components manufacturers operating in China, with roughly 10 to 15 major Chinese brands dominating both domestic production and the international export market.

A new wave of Chinese manufacturers is moving away from budget pit bikes to build high-performance, race-ready motocross bikes capable of competing on the world stage:

KOVE: (Tibet New Summit Motor): A rapidly rising star that entered the Dakar Rally and has officially announced a factory team program to enter the premier MXGP (World Motocross Championship) by 2027 using their own 450cc four-stroke machinery.

ZXMOTO: Another major factory entering two factory 450cc machines into the 2027 MXGP series, backed by extensive development teams across China and Europe.

JHL (JHL Factory Racing): Made history by fielding the first-ever Chinese manufacturer wildcard entry at the 2026 Shanghai MXGP with their LX350R motocross bike.

Traditional Powers & Large OEMs

These giant automotive and motorcycle groups manufacture complete off-road bikes, engines, and powertrains, often acting as partners or suppliers for major Western and Japanese brands:

Loncin Motor Co: Well-known globally for manufacturing precision powertrains (including engines for BMW Motorrad), they build a substantial volume of robust chassis motocross bikes for export.

CFMOTO: One of the most technologically advanced and rapidly growing Chinese powersports brands globally, heavily investing in premium off-road and adventure markets.

Zongshen / Shineray / Lifan: Massive industrial groups that form the backbone of China's mid-range off-road, utility, and pit bike production.

Specialized Off-Road & Electric Innovators

Several brands specifically focus on the consumer dirt bike niche or alternative electric powertrains:

Zuumav & Kamax: Dedicated explicitly to affordable, durable consumer motocross and trail dirt bikes (like the popular 250cc variants).

Sur-Ron: Has gained massive international acclaim for pioneering lightweight, high-performance electric dirt bikes.

Evoke Motorcycles & NIU Technologies: Traditionally street-focused electric brands that are expanding directly into motocross with dedicated high-performance electric off-road lines (such as Evoke's AmpX motocross bike).