A strong team-mate for Tobias Ebster: ZX Moto signs Skyler Howes

The Rallye du Maroc begins on 28 September with the prologue and concludes on 3 October after five stages. Chinese manufacturer ZX Moto will make its debut at the fourth round of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship. To this end, company founder Zhang Xue has teamed up with the established Joyride team and signed a promising rider, Tobias Ebster.

But that’s not all: just a few days before the start of the Morocco Rally, ZX Moto unveiled a second top driver in Skyler Howes. This signing did not come as a complete surprise, as the American is listed on the entry list, albeit without a team or brand. Ebster and Howes will therefore form a duo in Morocco – the Austrian in the Rally2 category and the Texan in the RallyGP category!

The 34-year-old brings with him extensive experience with Husqvarna and Honda, which he will now put to good use at ZX Moto. “It was time for something new, let’s get started,” said Howes. “There are no excuses, just disappointments, hard work and speed. See you in Morocco.”

The start in Morocco is primarily intended as preparation for the 2027 Dakar Rally. ZX Moto is an up-and-coming manufacturer that has already enjoyed success on the circuit. In its first year of competing in the Supersport World Championship, Valentin Debise has already secured six victories on the ZX 820RR and is second in the overall standings.

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