What a year so far it has been for French talent, Tom Vialle – he certainly knows how to deliver titles. After winning two MX2 World Championship titles he has now added a 250SX title to his CV.
Vialle spoke to the media after clinching his first SX title at the weekend…
On if it was his plan to learn in his rookie year then become SX champion in year two…
I don’t know if you can say that. Obviously, it’s amazing to be able to learn in the first year and win in the second but honestly, I didn’t really expect it. My goal was to be consistent throughout the season and of course, to be able to fight for the win. After my victory at Daytona and after winning again at Birmingham I said to myself “okay, I can fight for a title” and in the end, I did. It’s really unbelievable. I felt really good all season, much better than last year. Last year, I struggled a lot and this year, I had a lot more fun, so it was crazy.
On dealing with his emotions during the final round and after his bad gate pick…
I had a good day with some good laps in the afternoon. I felt good. I had a bad start in the heat race and the track was really muddy because we were the first to ride on it. It was greasy, slippery, and I struggled quite a bit. I think I ended up 8th or 9th and it wasn’t great, I couldn’t overtake anyone. The track was tricky and I had something like 18th place on the grid for the final; it was really bad. I was really placed on the outside and at the 30 second panel, I told myself that I really had to get a good start and that’s what I managed to do. I was 5 or 6 at the start of the race and from the second lap, I saw that Haiden was in the lead. From there I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes because I had to finish 10th or 11th to clinch the title if he won. I was a little stressed during the final, I didn’t want to make any mistakes, but I managed it well.
On Deegan’s mind games…
I knew very well that Haiden was going to try to destabilize me from press day but I understand. In his position, I probably would have done the same thing. Haiden is still young, he rides really well and he rode really well all day. He tried to unsettle me a little, but I can’t blame him because I probably would have done the same thing. When you’re second, when you’re aiming for a title, that’s how it is. We train really hard all year for this, so honestly, I can understand why he did this.
On comparing his SX title to his MX2 world titles…
Yes, I think it helped me a little tonight. This title was more difficult to win than those in the MX2 World Championship. Mainly because it’s only my second season in Supercross and I feel like I still have a lot to learn because I’m still learning more with each race. In the GP’s, I was in control, I knew what I was doing a little more when we were in Motocross, I felt safer and it is also a championship which is contested over 20 events. Here it’s much shorter so you can’t really afford any mistakes. So I would say that it was more difficult to win this title than the ones I won in Europe.
On heading to the AMA Nationals…
I think so. Honestly, and I don’t really know why, I struggled a lot at the start of outdoors last year. There, I did a few days of Motocross a few weeks ago – I didn’t want to change my discipline too much to concentrate on Supercross but we still rode – and I felt much better than last year so I’m really looking forward to competing outdoors. I don’t really know, but after last year’s Motocross des Nations – where I rode really well – I feel much better about Motocross. The bike settings are on point so I’m looking forward to being at Pala in two weeks and I think I’ll be a lot better than last year.
On his plans for the future…
To be honest, I don’t really know. I try to concentrate on each championship. I don’t really know, I think there have been changes to the regulations? If I don’t win next year, I think I can still ride the 250? If I win two consecutive titles, which is of course the goal, I would move up to 450cc in 2026.
On if any of the current MX2 GP riders have contacted him about racing in America…
Some, not everyone. I’m still in contact with a lot of riders in Europe and I’ve heard that quite a few of the MX2 GP riders want to come to the USA to do Supercross and I think that’s really cool but honestly, it’s not easy. During my last three seasons in the MX2 World Championship, I won two championships and even if I’m not going to say that I was faster than everyone, I was quite comfortable in the category and I won quite a few events. However, when I arrived in the USA, it was really complicated.
Last year there were a lot of ups and downs and after the first Supercross I really wondered if I had made the right decision in coming here. It was complicated. So I’m really happy that this year is going so well, I’m even more motivated than last year. There are a lot of riders who want to come here and if they come it would be a good thing.
On his mind set heading into the AMA Nationals…
I’m much more relaxed now that the title is in my pocket. I won the title in my second season and now I can really concentrate on my progress outdoors. I feel good, I had a good winter training with Chase, Levi & Peter my trainer. Physically, I feel good and that will help me during the Motocross season. I also think I’m riding better than last year so I’m really looking forward to it. I really want to be better than last season, because I wasn’t that good, and I want to be able to turn things around this season.
On after the first round if he thought he’d still be able to win the title…
No, after that event I told myself it was over and then Austin Forkner fell in the second race and we all came back to points. After the third race, I was only 4 or 5 points behind the first and I was really surprised because it worked out quite well for a lot of riders afterwards. I think Haiden was in the same position as me, a few points behind the leader after completely missing the first event. It was crazy, because after Daytona, the championship was restarted again.
On if he expected to win the title in year two…
That was always the goal. In 2022, I won my last title in Europe and at the start of the year, I didn’t yet know if I was going to come here. I decided after the last Supercross of the season that I wanted to come. I watched the races on my computer at night. I had decided that Supercross was my goal for the following years and two years later I already won my first title so it’s incredible. I’ve watched Supercross my whole life, since I was a kid, and to win a title after two years is crazy. I don’t know if I can say I expected to be champion this early, but of course winning was the goal.
