As team manager of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the U.S., Ian Harrison has been a key figure behind some of the biggest successes in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross. With two back-to-back 250SX East titles now under Tom Vialle’s belt, the Frenchman has quickly proven he belongs among America’s elite – but that doesn’t mean the journey has been without challenges.
We caught up with Harrison to get his thoughts on Vialle’s progress and how the former MX2 World Champion has adapted to the U.S. system. He also opens up about what’s ahead for the 2025 outdoor season, KTM’s technical development, and the ongoing negotiations with Chase Sexton.
GateDrop: Ian, whenever Tom Vialle came over to America, did you know much about him – do you follow MX2 GP’s much? He’s gone onto win two Supercross titles – has he surprised you?
Harrison: I knew about his first championship, of course, in MX2 and that he was in the hunt for his second championship. I do follow the MXGP racers. Yes, Tom has surprised me a lot. The part that surprises me the most is how well he rides in the main event. Sometimes in practice, he is way off, and then comes the main event, and he is right there with the other guys.
GateDrop: I recently did an interview with Valentina Ragni and she says that Tom is one of the most strongest minded and strongest mentally riders she has ever worked with and she has worked with a lot of riders. Would you agree?
Harrison: Yes, I would agree with that statement.
GateDrop: Seeing what Vialle has done and there’s a lot of international talent in AMA at the moment. I can tell you, the MX2 World Championship is very fast again this year… Do you guys look to Europe much to maybe find talent for the future so they can ride for your team in the future?
Harrison: We look at riders all over the world, but I would say that young riders with SX experience are at the top of the list, and I believe that’s how all the manufacturers see it.
GateDrop: The outdoors start this weekend and I would say we still haven’t seen Vialle outdoors ride at his MX2 GP pace. How’s he looking on the bike heading into the 2025 outdoor season?
Harrison: The MX series in the US is structured very differently, and I wouldn’t say Tom hasn’t been at his best last year; it’s a lot of change for a rider to adapt to. The US riders know their tracks; they are the same ones each year, and practice time is very short, so this all takes time to get used to. I think this year the bike is in a really good spot, and Tom knows the system now. He will be able to fight for this title, but it’s never easy.
GateDrop: The KTM looks much better in Europe this year compared to last, do you guys share much data with the MX2 team through Austria? Everyone knows how fast the Star Yamaha is but hopefully you guys can close the gap this year…
Harrison: Yes, we share information, which is a big help. I feel our bike is also in a great spot for the MX season.
GateDrop: Vialle has to move up to the 450cc in 2026. A lot of people seem to think he’s going to struggle on the bigger bike in Supercross. But actually, he is a very technical rider so I think he’ll suit the bigger bike? He’ll probably just need the first year to adjust and learn riding with the big boys…
Harrison: Once again, the 450 class in the US is filled with 250 champions. It’s a significant step with many talented riders, and while it will be a huge challenge, I always believe that if a rider puts in the extra effort, anything is possible.
GateDrop: How are talks going with Chase Sexton for him to stay orange for the 2026 season – I am sure you are hoping he can battle for the outdoor championship this year too!
Harrison: We had a great SX season, finishing in 1st place with Tom, and taking 2nd with both Chase and Julien. I’m incredibly proud of our team for making it through a long and challenging SX season.
The negotiations with Chase are ongoing. There is a lot to it; there is a set time when the rider can negotiate with the team, and then he can, of course, negotiate with other teams. This goes back and forth, sometimes taking months. Our history at KTM shows we like to keep riders for a long time, so that’s the goal, but it’s also no guarantee.
In recent press conference, Harrison also touched on the following subjects…
On Vialle winning back-to-back titles…
Harrison: A back-to-back title is really impressive. The championship is short, Supercross is just one main event. There’s only the 25 points you can pick up so you can drop out of it really quick. You’ve got to remember we actually didn’t score any points in Foxsborough so to me, this would have been a much easier title for Tom to manage all the way through if it wasn’t for that race. That race put a lot of pressure on him. I think Tom responds to pressure, if I look back to the race in Salt Lake City and seeing how he managed it. He didn’t panic and just stayed in his comfort zone and he let things come to him. It sounds cliché but he really managed it well. We are super proud of him.
The thing that struck out to me about Tom is that he knows his limit. He knows where he can improve but he also knows his strength. I think he really focuses on his strength to be good. I noticed many times in practice when things don’t go perfect, he can stay calm and that’s a big in our sport. He is able to deliver when it counts in the main event, he doesn’t let a bad heat race get in his way or anything like that. Those things stick out to me and each season he expands on that. From what I hear, it was kind of the same way in Europe, the more he was under the gun the better he performed, it is impressive.
Going from Supercross to the Motocross series which is a short turn around…
Harrison: It is a mad rush on going from Supercross to Motocross. You always think it is going to be a little bit easier but this year like many other years it’s been tough. Nearly all our guys were battling for a title in Supercross so they don’t want to get involved in getting ready for another series when the full focus was on Supercross. You try and squeeze something in here or there but generally it is just tiny little things because the main focus is on the title or winning the next race. I do completely get it so it is a little bit of a crazy week for us switching everything over getting ready for the next series. You have a lot to lean on from the previous years so you generally use that, then you bring some of the new stuff in which you try and tweak a little bit. With the riders, it can take a while for them to switch from Supercross mode into Motocross mode. It is generally they ride their bikes a little bit stiffer for the first few rounds and then they ease into it. It is such a big difference going from a Supercross fork and shock to a Motocross fork and shock. That is the base of our settings and then the next one is working on the Chassis to try and get stability. You go to more high-speed stuff, so you want more stability.
On if more riders from the World Championship will follow Vialle to America…
Harrison: I think it depends on the rider, it seems like the US has attracted a lot of French riders because they have a Supercross series and a big SX event in Paris each year. As a young kid, I can imagine this intrigues you. If you are involved in racing then that could be a path you want to follow. I would say it depends on where you are from and what kind of racing you want to do. If you come from a country more involved in just Motocross then I would think that MXGP would really appeal to you, that is my personal feeling.
