American rally-raid rider Skyler Howes has officially joined the ZXMoto Joyride Factory Rally Team, marking a significant step for both the rider and the rapidly growing Chinese manufacturer. According to the team’s announcement, Howes will make his competitive debut with ZXMoto at the upcoming Rallye du Maroc, the brand’s first appearance in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). 

The signing comes after Skyler Howes parted ways with Monster Energy Honda HRC following three seasons with the factory team. During his final Dakar Rally campaign with Honda, he finished fourth overall before concluding his tenure with a fifth-place result at the Desafío Ruta 40. 

Howes joins a rally program created through a partnership between ZXMoto and the Spanish team Joyride Race Service. The project is part of the manufacturer’s long-term strategy to establish itself in world rally raid competition, using the World Rally-Raid Championship as a pathway toward future Dakar Rally ambitions.

Founded by Zhang Xue, the former co-founder of Kove Moto, ZXMoto was launched as part of a new vision to build a globally competitive Chinese motorcycle manufacturer. Under Zhang Xue’s leadership, the company has expanded its international motorsport presence, using competition as a platform for development across rally raid, supersport racing, and motocross.

ZXMoto views the arrival of Howes as a major boost to the development of its rally program. In an official team statement, the company said:

“Skyler brings years of racing at the highest level, and together we’re taking the ZXMoto 450 Rally to the next level, pushing harder, going faster and developing a machine built to fight at the front.”

The American’s experience is expected to play a central role in refining the ZXMoto 450 Rally machine as the manufacturer prepares for future international competition. The company has made clear that Howes will not only race for the team but also contribute to the motorcycle’s ongoing development.

His first outing in ZXMoto colors is scheduled for the Rallye du Maroc, where he will compete in the premier RallyGP category. The event represents an important milestone for the manufacturer as it begins its factory-level participation in the World Rally-Raid Championship and continues preparations for future Dakar Rally campaigns.

The signing also reinforces ZXMoto’s growing ambitions in international motorsport. Alongside its rally raid program, the manufacturer has outlined broader plans that include competition in the FIM Supersport World Championship and a future entry into MXGP, underscoring its commitment to using top-level racing as a platform for technical development and global growth.

For Skyler Howes, the move offers a fresh challenge after years with established factory programs. For ZXMoto, securing a rider with proven Dakar and W2RC experience provides a valuable foundation as the company seeks to establish itself among the sport’s leading rally-raid manufacturers.