The ZX Moto Joy Ride Factory Rally Team made its first appearance in the World Championship of Cross-Country Rallies by taking part in the Ola Energy Rallye du Maroc, held from September 28 to October 3 with several leading international riders and teams competing.
The rally, which linked Agadir and Zagora, provided a demanding test for both riders and bikes, with varied stages combining rough tracks, sandy areas and high-speed sections. The conditions required competitors to maintain their concentration as well as their physical and technical readiness throughout the different stages.
The team entered two ZX Moto 450 Rally bikes, with American rider Skyler Howes competing in the Rally GP category and Austrian Tobias Ebster in Rally 2.
Both riders completed the rally in the bike’s first appearance in the World Championship, competing alongside several factory teams with extensive experience in rally racing.
Howes’ participation was particularly notable given his previous experience in the Rallye du Maroc. He won the event in 2022 before returning to the Moroccan stages for a new challenge in the Rally GP category against several leading names in the World Championship.
Ebster competed in Rally 2, giving the team a presence in two different categories. His participation also allowed ZX Moto to test the bike under different competitive conditions and across stages requiring careful management of speed and energy.
The ZX Moto 450 Rally is powered by a single-cylinder engine with a displacement of 449.9cc and produces around 58 horsepower. It is also equipped with a 32-liter fuel tank, long-travel suspension and high ground clearance, specifications designed to cope with the demands of rally racing and rough terrain.
The participation forms part of the team’s preparations for the 2027 Dakar Rally, scheduled to take place from January 1 to 15. The team intends to use the information gathered during the Rallye du Maroc to further develop the bike and prepare for one of the toughest challenges in rally racing.
The Rallye du Maroc thus provided a first important step for the ZX Moto Joy Ride Factory Rally Team in the World Championship of Cross-Country Rallies, ahead of the bigger test at the Dakar Rally, where the team and its bike will face more demanding terrain and strong competition from some of the leading names in the sport.
