There are comparisons that serve to determine which motorcycle is faster and others that end up telling a much more interesting and, above all, different story… And the confrontation between Richard Hammondthe ZXMoto 820RR and one Ducati Panigale V2 It clearly belongs to the second group. The most interesting.
Well yes, the renowned English presenter and tester, especially of cars, traveled to China to meet with Zhang Xuefounder of ZXMoto and one of the figures who is trying to change the international perception of the Chinese motorcycle industry. In fact, they both tested the 820RR in different tests, from a gymkhana up to several circuit rounds. And the strongest, using as a reference a Ducati Panigale V2 of the previous generation.
The 820RR does not want to look like a cheap Chinese motorcycle
The ZXMoto 820RR It is not exactly a simple sports car. Its 818.8 cc three-cylinder engine, developed by the brand itself, delivers 99 kW, equivalent to about 135 hpat 12,000 rpm and 80 Nm of maximum torque at 9,500 rpm. The set weighs 193 kg in running order and has an electronic throttle, quick shift, slipper clutch and electronics managed by a 6-axis IMU.
It also incorporates a fairly serious chassis part, with an aluminum perimeter chassis, adjustable inverted fork, adjustable monoshock and 2 320 mm front discs with 4-piston radial calipers. The geometry is not conventional either. The 820RR It allows modifying the advance and the steering angle, with 2 different wheelbase and geometry configurations, seeking to adapt the behavior of the motorcycle to the rider’s preferences. That is to say, we are very far from that image of a simple Chinese motorcycle whose main argument was only the price.
Hammond faces off against Zhang Xue
As we mentioned at the beginning, the first test was a gymkhana intended to check the agility of the motorcycle. Here it became clear that there were 2 elements playing against Hammond: on the one hand, his own lack of recent experience on a circuit motorcycle and, on the other, the fact of facing the same Zhang Xuewho knows the 820RR as if she were his daughter.
Obviously, the founder of ZXMoto was considerably faster on the track, while Hammond He acknowledged that he had needed approximately 50% more time to complete the route. But, more interesting than the result was the subsequent conversation about the behavior of the motorcycle. Hammond He highlighted the possibilities of chassis regulation and how changes in the configuration could appreciably modify the response of the motorcycle.
ZXMoto begins to surprise on the circuit
The really significant test came when they both went out on the track. Hammond He acknowledged that, as we mentioned at the beginning, he had not ridden a motorcycle on a circuit for approximately 20 years. But that did not prevent him from evaluating some aspects of the ZXMoto that caught his special attention.
Among them, the general stability, the sensation transmitted by the front axle and, especially, the way in which the three-cylinder engine delivered torque. And there appears one of the keys to this 820RR. It is not just about achieving a high power figure, but about building a motorcycle that allows you to take advantage of it.
Ducati still has the advantage
To eliminate differences between pilots as much as possible, a professional pilot was subsequently used to establish reference times.serious” with both machines. The result was interesting because each one showed its strengths. ZXMoto seemed capable of maintaining a higher speed in certain curves, while the Ducati It clearly recovered ground during acceleration.
By the way, the Ducati Panigale V2 used in the test belonged to the previous generation, equipped with the well-known twin-cylinder Superquadro 955 cc, with 155 hp and 100 Nm. Therefore, it would not be correct to use this confrontation as a demonstration that the 820RR is “better“that a Panigale V2No. It is a comparison between 2 philosophies and 2 generations of sports. And that is precisely why it is so interesting.
The weak point that the founder himself recognizes
The comparison also revealed one of the limitations of the 820RR. Zhang Xue He explained that the braking system of the version used in the test was designed for mainly road use and not to support consecutive circuit runs at maximum performance. After one or two intense laps, the effectiveness could begin to decline. But, far from hiding the problem, the head of the brand himself openly acknowledged it.
And that also says a lot about the moment you are living. ZXMoto. A relatively young brand that still has room to evolve its products, but that is already trying to compete in a field in which a short time ago it seemed unthinkable that a Chinese manufacturer could stand up to the large European firms. And, we all know what we are talking about… “stand up to the World Cup”
ZXMoto has already left its mark in competition
Obviously, the 820RR It does not come to this test solely with commercial arguments. In March 2026, the brand achieved its first victories in the Supersport World Championship. Valentin Debise won both races at the Portimao event at the controls of the ZXMotoachieving a historic double for the Chinese manufacturer in the category. But, the data is even more important if we take into account that ZXMoto was founded in 2024. As we see, the brand was born with the clear intention of becoming a manufacturer of high-performance motorcycles capable of competing with anyone.
Probably the most interesting takeaway from the entire experience has nothing to do with lap times. Hammond summed up the change in perception in a particularly graphic way. “For years, motorcycles made in China were considered in Europe as economical alternatives whose main advantage was precisely that they cost less. But that situation is changing, Chinese manufacturers have not only learned to make motorcycles, but also to make them well.“. An evolution that, in his opinion, “is following a path similar to the one Chinese car manufacturers have already taken“And there comes the real news.
Because the ZXMoto 820RR does not need to demonstrate that a Ducati Panigale V2 is no longer a reference. It’s not like that. Ducati continues to have enormous experience, technology, sporting tradition and development capacity accumulated over decades. What this test does demonstrate is that the distance has been reduced. And it has done so much faster than much of the European industry probably expected.
A few years ago, comparing a Chinese sports car with a Ducati It would have seemed like a provocation. Today, a personalityfrom the world” as Richard Hammond You can get on both, ride on a circuit and end up “seriously talking about the dynamic virtues of the Chinese product.” That change of scenery is possibly much more important than any tenth of a second per lap. It’s very clear.
