Tom Vialle says his transition to the MXGP class has gone “so far so good” after securing his first overall victory just three rounds into the 2026 season. The Frenchman, who returned to Europe this year after two seasons in the United States, admitted the off-season was busy as he adjusted to a new team, a new bike and a different lifestyle, all in a few months.
“It was a pretty busy winter,” Vialle explained in an interview with Lisa Leyland at Riola. “Moving back, leaving a different place—it was quite a lot. But everything has gone pretty well so far. I didn’t really know what to expect in Argentina, but it went well all weekend. That was really amazing for me.”
A more challenging outing followed in Spain, where deep sand tested the former MX2 World Champion, but he still came away with solid points. However, it was in Switzerland where everything came together, as Vialle claimed his first MXGP overall victory in difficult conditions and even overcame his own crashes to come out on top.
“It was a tricky track—really cold, a bit muddy—but it was so nice to get that first win,” he said. “It was a tough weekend. I had a bad qualifying race on Saturday, but Sunday was much better. I didn’t even know for sure that I had the overall at first.”
Now based in France while regularly training at the team’s facility in the Netherlands, Vialle is enjoying being back on the European circuit—both professionally and personally. “Of course, it’s easier to see my family now,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time in the U.S.—I had a lot of friends there and the life in Florida was great—but I’m really happy to be back racing GPs. I’m enjoying riding my bike every day.”
Stepping up to the 450 class comes with its own challenges, particularly in what Vialle describes as one of the most competitive fields in recent years. “The class is really stacked this year. There are so many top riders and world champions—it’s tough every weekend,” he said. “For me, it’s my first year on the 450, so I still have a lot to learn. The goal is to be fighting for podiums and hopefully go for more wins during the season.”
Vialle has also reunited with former KTM teammate Jeffrey Herlings at Team HRC, and says the Dutchman’s experience has already proved valuable. “It’s nice to have Jeffrey there. He’s someone I already knew, and he has so much experience, especially with bike setup. We train together sometimes, and it’s a good atmosphere in the team.”
Attention now turns to Sardinia, where Vialle heads into the weekend full of confidence at a track that has brought him success in the past. “It’s actually one of my best tracks,” he said. “I raced here twice in MX2 and won both times, so I have really good memories.”
Despite the positive history, Vialle is under no illusions about the challenge ahead, with the deep sand of Riola Sardo widely regarded as one of the toughest tests on the calendar. “All the sand GPs are physically demanding, and this one is probably one of the toughest,” he said. “The weather is good this weekend—not too hot—but it’s still going to be hard. I’ve been training for that, so hopefully we can have a good weekend.”
