After three highly successful seasons in the United States, Tom Vialle is back on familiar soil—but facing an entirely new challenge. The two-time MX2 World Champion made the bold decision to return to Europe and step up to the premier MXGP class, swapping the American scene for a factory 450cc opportunity that was simply too good to turn down. While his time stateside brought titles, experience, and valuable friendships, the move back across the Atlantic marks the start of a fresh chapter against the very best riders in the world.
Adjusting to new machinery, different tracks, and the relentless depth of MXGP competition hasn’t come without its challenges, but the Frenchman is embracing the process. We caught up with Vialle as he opens up on his decision to leave America, the realities of adapting back to European racing, learning from elite teammates, and how he’s finding his feet in one of the toughest classes in motocross.
GateDrop: Tom, you are back in Europe, back in MXGP, I was speaking to you in Paris Supercross a few years ago and you did tell me the long-term goal was to stay in America. When did that start to change for you?
Vialle: Dude, that’s a tough question. Long-term goal but you never know in life what can happen. I had a really good time in the US. I was really happy to go. I had a good time, I mean, those three years, what I did, it’s tough to do better. Obviously, I would have really wanted to win a 250 outdoors title. But Haiden has been really good and those last two years, it was tough for me to beat him. I finished second in 2024 and that’s only a little regret. But apart from that, those three years, I won two titles and I have great memories from it. I’ve been saying it so many times, but, with contracts, I was really excited to ride on a Honda, which I think right now is one of the best bikes out there, in Supercross, in Motocross, in the US, in Europe. I mean, that bike has been winning everywhere a little bit. I was really excited for that opportunity and I’m really thankful for that. It’s been good so far.
GateDrop: I’ve got one question I’ve been dying to ask you about your American experience. Like, you had no Supercross experience when you went over there. You were actually better at Supercross than you were at AMA Pro Motocross. Logically, that doesn’t make sense. I have a theory why, but why do you think you were better at Supercross in America?
Vialle: I mean, I don’t know. The first year at Supercross, I didn’t do much. It was tough and I had many crashes. I had to learn, I did some good races and I won my first overall in Motocross. So, the first year, I was a lot better in Motocross than Supercross. I then won the title in 2024. I wouldn’t say a lot, because I won in Supercross and finished second in Motocross so it was really close. But the outdoor is so different than what we do here in the GP. We’re not talking about the speed or anything like that. It’s the same as when an American guy comes to Europe. If you ride for just a year in Arco, if you’re not born and ride all, it’s really hard. It takes time and it’s the same for us going to the U.S. You go to a track like Washougal or Unadilla. We’re not used to that and it’s tough. I mean, guys like Kenny Roczen, Marvin Musquin and, Dylan Ferrandis have been champions. A lot of guys made it, but it’s really hard to beat them and especially when you have someone like Haiden Deegan who has been really good the last two, three years. It’s tough to beat him.
GateDrop: The outdoors in America, it seems like the intensity is very high. The tracks allow you to go faster. Is that something you had to adapt to? Because you’re very smooth and technical on a bike. You know, you’re not just pinning it to win it…
Vialle: Exactly. I think the tracks, I mean, when you’re in the U.S., most of the tracks are really good tracks. The dirt is really nice there at most of the tracks and they’re well prepped. Then you can really open the gas and really push. You can put in so much intensity whereas here, if you see Arco, if you’re on the 450, if you open the gas a little too much, you go 360. So you have to be a little bit more patient, it’s just different and like I said, the type of tracks. So maybe here, it looks like guys are going a little bit more easy at the beginning of the moto, because you cannot do anything. The track is so slippery on the first lap so it’s not like you cannot do much.
GateDrop: When guys go to America, you know, the lifestyle is very different. It’s amazing over there. A lot of guys come back and don’t really enjoy Europe. Are you actually enjoying being back in Europe? Do you get to spend much time in France where you’re from?
Vialle: Well, I went to the U.S. when I was 21 years old, so I was living in Europe for 21 years. I only lived three years in the U.S so if you see that, it was a really short time living in the U.S., but I had so much fun. The first year was tough with not so many friends. I was only with my family, they followed me. So the first year in the U.S. was really tough. I was really lucky that Chase signed with KTM and then we got to be close friends. I enjoyed a lot the last two years, 2024 and 2025 training with Chase. I got to meet so many friends and I actually really enjoyed those two years. That was really nice. Coming back here in Europe, you know, the opportunity with Honda, the 450cc, the factory bike, it’s great for me so that’s why I did it.
GateDrop: I mean, what was the winter like? I imagine you probably spent a lot of time in the sand. You probably hadn’t seen those conditions since you left Europe, really. What’s it been like?
Vialle: Yeah, last weekend in Riola was tough. The speed was good, but there’s a lot of things. The brand’s different. The cylinder, the 450’s different. The track is, I mean, you know, like, if you go three years in the U.S. and come back and be already good, it would be a bit too easy, especially riding against Jeffrey Herlings and Lucas Coenen, the best riders in the world. So I think it’s normal to take a little bit of time.
GateDrop: What has it been like having Jeffrey Herlings as a teammate? Have you done much riding with him? I know he was your teammate at KTM as well, so you already know him and that probably helped. I mean, riding with him at the practice track, you can certainly learn a lot.
Vialle: I mean, it’s great. Obviously, Jeffrey’s one of the best, so I’ve been learning a lot all winter. Like you said, we have been with the team, testing and trying to make the bike better. Having Jeffrey as a teammate is really good. Even at the races and training, I can learn a lot from him.
GateDrop: The 450cc, I mean, you’re a young guy, and, you know, you probably don’t want to be developing a bike or anything like that. Has having Ruben and Jeffrey’s experience help with that? And the bike seems really good.
Vialle: You know, during the winter, I mean, for example, the first test, I didn’t know anything about the 450cc. I didn’t know if the power was too much or not enough. Even my start, I know I’ve always been a good starter but on the 450cc, I was doing starts on the 450cc by myself and I didn’t know if this was good or bad, you know? I had never raced the 450cc class, so having them has been good. Ruben has been, I think, already three or four years in this team so he knows a lot. Jeffrey, one of the best coming to the team, so it was also new for him. Having those two has been a big help for me setting up the bike.
GateDrop: You’ve obviously got your father in your corner but I believe that you are also working with Jacky Vimond. What’s it been like working with him? He’s obviously the first French World Champion…
Vialle: I mean, like you said, I’ve got my Dad, my family, Brother, and Mom who have been following me since I started racing so many years ago, so we don’t change that. It’s been working good so far the last couple of years. Jacky has worked with the team for a couple of years. When I knew I was going to officially race with Honda, we got in contact with Jacky and started talking. It’s been good already from the beginning. It clicks pretty good with Jacky and myself and I think we’re doing a good job. Jacky is really good, he can see a lot on the track and that’s what I like. He helps me with some parts on the track and also physically a little bit. He helps, sometimes not big things, but it makes a big difference and that is nice.
GateDrop: Obviously coming into the season, there were a lot of unknowns. With MXGP being a rookie, is there anything that surprised you about the class?
Vialle: Yes. I mean, you know, in the 250cc class, there’s always one or two guys good guys. But here in MXGP there’s so many good guys. Here, if you can start seventh or eighth you can fight with Tim Gajser, Romain Febvre or Jeffrey Herlings being in that position so it’s really hard to compete. It’s been tough, but luckily I have had great starts so that’s helped me to be at the front. It’s nice to start good because you can learn a lot from the guys at the front and get better each weekend.
GateDrop: Whenever you signed with HRC, it was a multi-year contract. Would you just confirm how many years you actually signed for?
Vialle: Yeah, it’s a multi-year contract, I’ve signed for a couple of years.
