After a successful time in the USA that saw Tom Vialle win two supercross title’s and be a periennal 250 outdoor contender, the Frenchman is back in Europe but now in the premier class on a factory Honda – and once again teammates with Jeffrey Herlings!
Tom spoke at the HRC Honda media conference about the move back to Europe and the move to a 450 Honda – as well as his hopes of racing close friend Chase Sexton at the MXoN!
(Host) Tom, How’s that transition been coming back to Europe from the USA? Obviously you were in Europe before, but what’s it been like being back in Europe and how have you adapted so far?
Tom Vialle: Yeah, it’s been nice actually. I’ve been three years in the US and then I was four years before that here in Europe. It’s my first 450 season, so the winter so far has been pretty good. So the goal is to be obviously in the next year try to be as successful as I did in the 250 class, so yeah I’m trying to work as hard as I can to get there and the 450 still a lot of things to learn. But yeah, the goal is to work hard and get there as soon as possible.
Geoff Meyer (MX Large): Tom, another world championship would put you with three world titles, something that no Frenchman has been able to do in the major classes (outside of Yves Demaria in the MX3 class). Is this something that’s a goal of yours or how do you feel about becoming possibly the most successful French world champion?
Tom Vialle: I actually didn’t know that, but now it will be obviously my dream and my goal for the next years. This is my first year on the 450 class so I have a lot to learn. It’s also a new bike, a new team for me, so a lot to learn but hopefully we can achieve it and like you said that would be awesome if we can do it.
Pascal Hardiquert (Moto Verte): Tom, after several seasons in the US, what do you think is going to be the most difficult thing to adapt being back in Europe again or what has been the most difficult thing?
Tom Vialle: This is a new class like I’ve said for me, this is a new class so getting used to the power of the 450, race new guys that I’ve never used to race before. So there’s a lot of new things that I need to get used to it. But also the tracks, I mean we all know the track in the US and in Europe are a little bit different. The good things is I know the track but I have to get a little bit back in the rhythm and get to know again the type of tracks. It’s a long weekend in MXGP, we have two days of racing so a couple things that I have to adapt again but I’m sure it will be quick and I did four seasons here in Europe in the 250 class so I know how the system and the race weekend goes so it will be a quick to adapt again.
Jonathan McCready (GateDrop): Tom Vialle, Chase Sexton says he’s very excited to watch the GPs this year because you’re in it, you obviously had a very good relationship, but he says he wants to race you in Ernée, France. Would you be excited for that and are you looking forward to Ernée, France potentially for being part of Team France?
Tom Vialle: Yeah, I mean we all know the Nations is always a big race especially in France in Ernée. I was there in 2023 and we won the race. So that was one of the best weekends of my life. It was really a crazy weekend with so many fans so hopefully this year I can be able to race. Of course, it is Team France who decide the selection of the rider and it would be nice to ride against Chase finally. I was in the US in the 250 class he was always in the 450 class so we’ve been training a lot together for the last two years but yeah if I’m selected to do the Motocross of Nations it would be nice to race against him.
