After conquering the American Supercross scene, Tom Vialle could be on the verge of a sensational return to the MXGP World Championship in 2026.
The Frenchman made the bold decision to leave the Grand Prix paddock at the end of the 2022 season, swapping familiar European circuits for the stadiums of America. It turned out to be a masterstroke, with Vialle going on to win back-to-back 250SX East titles in 2024 and 2025 – a huge achievement considering his lack of experience before making the switch to America.
With that second Supercross title, Vialle is now no longer eligible to race the 250SX class in 2026. The expectation was that he would step up to the 450cc class in America with the KTM team, forming a three-rider line-up alongside Aaron Plessinger and the soon-to-be-confirmed Eli Tomac. Tomac, previously linked with Ducati, is expected to make the move to KTM after reportedly receiving a better financial package.
However, there could be a dramatic twist in Vialle’s career path. Credit to Italian source, MxNews.net, who first broke the story, and backed up by Lewis Phillips, Vialle has received an offer to return to the MXGP series for the 2026 season. We also heard whispers of the deal last week, and it’s understood that talks with HRC Honda have significantly progressed over the weekend – though a contract has not yet been signed.
Before leaving for his American adventure, Vialle had a clause in his contract that would have seen him move to the MXGP class for the 2023 season but instead chose to pursue his Supercross dream. If the deal with HRC Honda goes through, it would mark a major shift – not only geographically but also in terms of machinery. Having spent the entirety of his professional career with the KTM Group, a move to Honda would see Vialle line up on Japanese equipment for the first time.
Such a move would also raise significant questions about the current HRC line-up. If Vialle joins the team, it means that at least one of the current riders – Tim Gajser or Ruben Fernandez – will be on the move. It’s not out of the question that HRC Honda could head into 2026 with an entirely new line-up to chase MXGP glory but it still remains to be seen what direction they’ll go in.
There had been previous links between the Coenen brothers and HRC Honda, but the latest indications suggest both Lucas and Sacha are more likely to remain with the KTM structure – though in the ever-changing world of motocross, nothing can be ruled out.
This potential move for Vialle is yet another indication that the 2026 MXGP season could see a major shake-up. With top riders switching teams and manufacturers reshuffling their priorities, expect more big news in the coming weeks.