HONOR Announces Co-Branded Championship Watch with Zongshen Motorcycle for WSBK Victory

Last-Moment Overtake! Zongshen Motorcycle Returns to the Top of the WSBK Podium

On May 2, in the just-concluded Race 1 of the WorldSSP category at the 2026 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) Hungary round, French rider Valentin Debise of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Zongshen Motorcycle delivered a breathtaking performance — completing a dramatic last-moment overtake to claim a dominant victory. This win not only showcases the rider's personal prowess but also marks the continued rise of Chinese motorcycle brands' competitiveness on the world stage.

HONOR CEO Congratulates Team, Announces Championship Co-Branded Watch

Following the race, HONOR CEO Li Jian was quick to post a congratulatory message for Zongshen Motorcycle's victory, calling it "a race that made every spectator incredibly proud."

At the same time, Li Jian officially announced that, as the chief strategic partner of Zongshen Motorcycle's WSBK campaign, HONOR will launch a championship co-branded watch to celebrate this historic title-winning moment. While specific details regarding the watch model, design elements, and release date have yet to be disclosed, judging from HONOR's recent product lineup in the smart wearables space, the co-branded watch will most likely blend racing-inspired design elements with smart technology, targeting young and sports-oriented consumers.

A Partnership Long in the Making: HONOR's Deep Integration with Motorsport IP

In fact, HONOR's collaboration with Zongshen Motorcycle did not begin with this championship victory. As early as the beginning of April this year, HONOR had already officially become the chief strategic partner of Zongshen Motorcycle's WSBK team. At the time, HONOR Chief Marketing Officer Guan Haitao presented the team with HONOR WIN series smartphones and HONOR WIN gaming laptops on behalf of the brand, expressing hope that the product line would "bring victory" to the riders. Now that the championship has arrived right on cue, this marketing initiative has achieved a perfect full-circle moment.

From a brand strategy perspective, HONOR's decision to deeply align itself with WSBK, a world-class motorcycle racing series, follows a clear commercial logic:

• Reaching young consumer demographics: The core audience of motorcycle racing highly overlaps with HONOR's target users — young consumers who value speed, technology, and individuality;
• Strengthening brand presence in sports scenarios: By entering the sports wearables segment through a championship co-branded watch, HONOR further expands its smart watch brand recognition in extreme sports contexts;
• Boosting international brand visibility: Leveraging WSBK's global broadcast coverage, HONOR gains greater exposure in international markets, supporting its overseas expansion efforts.

Smart Wearables + Sports Marketing: An Emerging Industry Trend

In recent years, cross-industry collaborations between tech brands and top-tier sporting events have become a common strategy in the industry. From Huawei's long-standing partnership with Porsche to major smartphone manufacturers competing to sponsor esports teams, sports marketing is becoming a critical battleground for tech brands vying for the attention of younger users. HONOR's decision to launch a co-branded watch at the precise moment of a championship victory is well-timed and highly topical, and is expected to generate significant buzz on social media.

Further details about the championship co-branded watch are pending official announcements from HONOR. We will continue to follow the latest developments on this product.