French rider Valentin Debise secured a thrilling victory for China's ZXMOTO in Race 1 of the FIM Supersport World Championship Emilia-Romagna Round on Saturday, claiming his sixth win of the 2026 season and strengthening his position in the championship battle.

The result lifted Debise to second place in the riders' standings on 188 points, ahead of Spain's Jaume Masia. ZXMOTO remains third in the manufacturers' championship with 190 points.

After finishing third in the Superpole race earlier in the weekend to earn a front-row starting position, Debise quickly established himself among the frontrunners when Race 1 got underway at the Misano circuit.

The Frenchman settled into third place behind Yamaha riders Can Öncü and Adrian Huertas Arenas during the opening laps, with the leading trio gradually breaking away from the rest of the field.

As the race progressed, the battle for victory narrowed. By Lap 9, Öncü dropped back, leaving Debise and Arenas locked in a head-to-head fight at the front.

The contest remained undecided until the final lap, when the two riders exchanged the lead several times. Debise ultimately made a decisive move in the closing stages and held on to take the checkered flag.

Arenas finished second, while Öncü completed the podium in third.

ZXMOTO's Federico Caricasulo crossed the line in ninth place, while QJMOTOR rider Raffaele De Rosa finished 16th.

Debise praised both his rivals and his team after the race.

"The race was very competitive," he said. "Winning is never easy, and I had to put in a lot of effort."

The 32-year-old also highlighted the progress made with the ZXMOTO machine throughout the season.

"The more we go on, the closer we get to understanding the bike. I really enjoy riding it and I feel comfortable," he added.

Debise credited the team for making effective technical adjustments after challenges encountered in high temperatures during the previous round in Aragon.

"Earlier at Aragon, the heat created some difficulties, but those problems have been resolved here and the bike is back to normal," he noted.

The Emilia-Romagna Round concludes with Race 2 on Sunday, where Debise will look to add another victory to his growing tally and further close the gap at the top of the championship standings.