QJ Motor is racking its brains: a number of changes are set to take place for the 2027 Supersport World Championship

In its first year of competing in the Supersport World Championship, the Chinese brand QJ Motor failed to score a single World Championship point with the SRK800RR, which was far too heavy and, on top of that, underpowered. In their second season, with Niki Tuuli and Raffaele De Rosa, they managed 36 points – but this still meant finishing a distant last in the Constructors’ Championship.

This year saw the introduction of the new homologation model, the SRK800RS, which was intended to mark a significant step forward. The sobering reality is that De Rosa and Marcos Ramirez have yet to score a single point ahead of the current summer break.

This has been an embarrassing experience for QJ Motor, as fierce competition has emerged on home soil in the form of ZX Moto. Valentin Debise has already won six races for the very young brand – it was only founded in 2024 – and lies second in the overall standings with 209 points, behind the very consistent Albert Arenas from the Swiss AS Yamaha team, who has 291 points.

At QJ, therefore, minds are racing to work out how the situation can be improved for 2027. Since 2024, a branch of the Puccetti outfit has been managing the QJ works team. Since 2025, the Italians have also been running the Kawasaki works team in the Superbike and Supersport World Championships; the two operations are kept strictly separate from one another. Behind the scenes, everything is coordinated by team boss Manuel Puccetti, who has a one-year contract with QJ each time.

ZX and QJ: Fundamentally Different Approaches

The approaches taken by ZX and QJ could not be more different. ZX took its cue from an earlier Moto2 chassis and a Kalex swingarm; the homologation model was fitted with an 820 cc three-cylinder engine and high-quality components. The aim: to achieve the greatest possible success in the sport as quickly as possible.

The QJ Motor SRK800RR, on the other hand, was designed for use on public roads and later brought to the racetrack; the similarities to the Honda CBR650F are striking. On the current homologation model with a four-cylinder engine (800 cc), the frame, fairing and engine have been improved to take the overall package to a higher level. The SRK800RS is proving popular in the Asian market, but it still lacks sufficient racing DNA for the circuit.

Racing department being set up at the factory in China

As SPEEDWEEK.com has learnt, QJ intends to invest more in the Supersport World Championship in future and is currently in the process of setting up its own racing department at its huge factory in China. Furthermore, according to Chinese sources, the possibility of working with another team that can focus exclusively on the project is being discussed.

During their three-year collaboration, Puccetti has helped QJ lay the foundations for the future with a solid World Championship team. In 39-year-old Raffaele De Rosa (19 podium finishes, 1 win), they have a highly experienced rider who is regarded as one of the most astute developers.