XI'AN, May 11 (Xinhua) -- During this year's May Day holiday, 14-year-old Zhang Qingtian appeared in public alongside his father Zhang Xue, founder of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, at a motocross league event held in the Xixian New Area of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The event brought together 183 riders from eight countries and regions, including professional racers and youth competitors.

On race day, the younger Zhang quickly found himself in a fight to stay in the pack. After a fall, he immediately picked up his motorcycle and restarted it. He rejoined the race, kicking up dust alongside other young riders. At the top of the camelback jumps, he launched high into the air. From the grandstand, Zhang Xue watched every move, his eyes fixed on his son.

The scene stood in stark contrast to two decades ago. Back then, covered in mud and riding a beat-up motorcycle, Zhang Xue was filmed chasing a TV crew's van for over a hundred kilometers, just for a chance to be noticed by racing teams. In just two decades, the landscape of China's motocross has been transformed. Fully geared and professionally trained, today's young riders benefit from top-notch facilities and a supportive social atmosphere, as they roar down the track toward a booming future.

This rising generation was very evident at the league event in Shaanxi. Well-known Chinese motorcycle racer Zhao Hongyi did not participate this time, but was there to support his daughter who was competing.

"My eldest daughter started riding motorcycles when she was just over four years old, and she is now about to turn seven. She is very interested in this competition," Zhao said, noting that the sport bolsters physical fitness, coordination and balance.

According to Zhao, over 100 participants at this competition were teenagers and children, making up more than half of all the riders. "This underscores the robust growth of China's young talent pool in this sport," he added.

Lu Ditang, a 12-year-old female competitor, was thrilled by her experience at the league event. She saw both the new Desmo 450 MX motocross bike from world-leading brand Ducati and the latest MX250 from ZXMOTO. "These bikes are really cool and perform well," she said.

"I also competed on the same track as my idol, women's division champion Li Lianyina, and saw her impressive big air. I even got an autograph and a photo with Zhang Xue. This experience was perfect!" Lu added.

Lu's mother Wang Lin told Xinhua that while she was initially worried due to the sport's high-risk nature, Wang later found that with proper protective gear and training from professional coaches on handling different situations, her daughter's safety was well taken care of.

"We are moved by her dedication and passion," Wang said. "She may not become a professional racer in the future, but we will fully support her as long as she pursues what she loves, explores diverse interests and keeps making breakthroughs."

Zhang Min, a leading Chinese racer, established the Zhang Min Riding Classroom several years ago to provide systematic motocross training aimed at improving riding safety and skill levels for racers of all ages. Zhang noted that in recent years, Chinese parents' attitudes toward supporting their children's involvement in the sport have shifted significantly.

"When we were kids, our parents simply considered riding motorcycles very dangerous. Today, parents born in the 1980s or 1990s are willing to let their children learn riding skills -- not only to experience joy but also to grow into responsible road users. And this is precisely the inevitable result of China's sustained economic and social development," Zhang said.

The infrastructure boom has also played a pivotal role. The Qinhan off-road park, which debuted during this competition, is the first professional motocross venue in Shaanxi Province, and was built to international competition standards. Covering approximately 2.3 hectares, the park features professional off-road tracks, reception centers, maintenance workshops and garages, along with a 1-hectare parking and paddock area.

The venue also provides an adventure and leisure area for ADV motorcycles, trail motorcycles and other bike types, with a more specialized setup to attract a larger number of local enthusiasts. The venue operator additionally plans to bring in off-road motorcycle clubs from across China, aiming to create an influential off-road park.

Furthermore, domestic manufacturers are capitalizing on the sport's rising popularity. During this league competition, 45 young racers experienced kid-sized electric motorcycles developed by a tech firm based in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.

"Our products are all electric vehicles. They are lighter, more affordable and more reliable than traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles. This not only makes them easier for children to handle but also reduces the financial burden on parents," said Su Shaozong, founder of the company.

Su, whose team has spent three years developing and refining these products, has ambitious sights set on the global market. "We plan to move from the domestic market to exports. We're also waiting for a chance to make a name on the international stage and amaze the world in our field, just as Zhang Xue did." ■