De Rosa propels QJ Motor: a 2025 Supersport revolution, lightning-fast development, and a podium dream in 2026

Monday, 10 November 2025 at 20:45

QJ Motor was the revelation of the 2025 Supersport World Championship. The secret? The extraordinary work done by Raffaele De Rosa.

The rider from Campania is experiencing a new youth with the Chinese giant, and the results speak for themselves. Raffaele De Rosa is not just a rider but a true point of reference: he’s an excellent tester and, together with the technical staff, is driving the entire development of the project.

"The season’s balance is positive," Raffaele De Rosa tells Corsedimoto, "the new bike arrived a bit late, but that was inevitable because we were trying to get everything right and that required time. The QJ SKR800 proved immediately competitive. We were right behind the top five. Previously, our gaps were measured in seconds; in the final races of 2025, they were in tenths. At Estoril, I started from the fourth slot. In various races we collected many good finishes. Now we’re really in a good place; the bike has no particular problems. We just need to improve a few details. The bike is easy to ride; it’s excellent in terms of delivery, acceleration, aerodynamics...".

Which area do you still need to work on?

"We need to improve small things. The main intervention will be weight reduction. We’ve already taken off more than 10 kilos, but we’ll need to reduce it further."

Racing Chinese, quite the challenge!

"Yes, very much so. Nicola Sartori and I, who has taken charge of the technical side, suggest changes to the factory and they always try to accommodate us—they listen a lot. It’s very satisfying for us because we then see that they work and are appreciated by others as well, as happened this year with my teammate Niki Tuuli. Sharing the box with him was very stimulating. I hope my new teammate is a fast one, maybe a former Moto2 rider."

Retirement can wait...

"In the past, I would’ve liked to move to bigger bikes, but I stayed in Supersport. I’ll be honest: I didn’t like the environment; I wasn’t very motivated anymore. QJ Motor changed that. It’s not just unloading the bike, getting on, opening the throttle, loading it back up, and that’s it. Here I truly feel part of a major project. I don’t just have to try to go as fast as possible: my role is different—besides being a rider, I’m a tester and developer. The team includes extremely competent people, and it’s great to work with them. Over my career I’ve worked with technicians like Deganello and Romagnoli, and I’ve become passionate about chassis setup and technology in general."

In the future, will you become a Crew Chief?

"I’d like that role, I won’t deny it. Obviously, I’d need to gain the necessary experience first. Even now, I’m getting very involved in the technical side. However, I wouldn’t want to work in the MotoGP paddock because it’s too stressful and I’d have to be away from home for a long time."

Right, you have a daughter

"Yes, a year-and-a-half-old girl, and I have so much fun spending my time with her. Family is extremely important."

How do you see QJ Motor’s 2026?

"In my opinion, the level of the Supersport World Championship will be similar; the level from fifth to twentieth has risen a lot. The goal is to be in the top five and maybe grab a podium: that would be great."

QJ Motor vs ZXMotor, a Chinese derby?

"As a rider, I always look inside my own box, not at others’. I can say that as brands they’re very different in terms of market positioning. On paper ZXMoto seems quite advanced, but once you hit the track, many factors come into play: racing is another matter."

China as a motorsport powerhouse: did you expect it?

"Economically, China is very strong. The Chinese are very good at investing, innovating, and researching products that are attractive on the market. On top of that, they have a great desire to work and produce. Their responsiveness is incredible: we ask for something and the factory delivers immediately, with impressive speed. Until not long ago these qualities of theirs were used by Westerners, then the Chinese got tired of producing for others and now they produce for themselves."