The world of sports has long been unable to get past China. Its market is too tempting for sports associations to avoid the People’s Republic as a venue for world championships or World Cup series. Consequently, China now hosts ski jumping and luge competitions, Formula 1 and motocross races. Over the weekend, the off-road machines of the world’s best cross-country riders whizzed past the grandstands in Shanghai at the Oriental Beauty Valley MXGP of China. The event marked the return of the series after a four-year break. Due to the Covid pandemic, the event in China was removed from the calendar in 2020. Chinese riders were also at the start. Although they finished in the last three places, they at least left their eliminated competitors behind them.