Tom Vialle Takes His First 450 MXGP Overall

HRC factory rider, Tom Vialle won his first MXGP overall in just his third attempt, after storming through the field in the second moto to back-up his victory in the first moto. Starting from 18th gate-pick, the Honda HRC PETRONAS rider powered away to lead the whole of race one, showing his speed on a tricky Frauenfeld track.

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“I actually had a really bad Saturday," Vialle would say. "Not many people know, but my foot got stuck between the sprocket and the chain, so I had to stop and get it out. Today was completely different. The conditions helped with the start, and in the first race I led from the first lap to the end and felt great. The track was really tricky, but when you’re in front you can ride your own race. The second race was tougher, I had a bad start, a crash, and had to come back to sixth. I didn’t even realise I was winning overall, but it feels amazing. It was a tough weekend, so it’s good to bounce back like this.”

He wasn’t able to repeat that in race two though and instead had to come from outside the top 20 to power his way to sixth place. It was a remarkable comeback that surprised even the Frenchman as he didn’t know he’d won the Swiss GP until he got behind the podium.

It was a crazy turn of events, which showed that the rookie MXGP rider is already a force to be reckoned with, especially as he can make the necessary passes on what is traditionally a difficult track to move through the field. This victory now sees him to within seven points of the title-lead and after three completely different terrains, he is proving he will be a threat at every round.

"I really didn’t know that I had won when I crossed the line. I thought I’d be on the podium because other riders didn’t have two good scores, but I just wanted to try and pass as many guys as possible in that second moto. Still, it is a very cool to have won the GP, my first in the MXGP class and my first with this new team and hopefully the first of many. It was a very tricky circuit and not something I’m used to, but I kept fighting until the end and while I did make a couple of mistakes, it is good to know that I have been at the front in three different types of track."

On the Saturday Vialle finished outside of the points in 18th place after looking poised to finish inside the top five. In wet conditions, the Frenchman’s foot slipped and got caught in his tyre, causing him to lose a number of positions as he untangled himself.

After another incident, he eventually crossed the line in 18th, which isn’t what he was hoping for at the beginning of a weekend where he was hopeful of challenging near the front of the field. Still, his starting prowess always gives him a chance, and all four riders will be motivated to score good points in tomorrow’s two motos when conditions could be similarly grim for this third MXGP of the season.

"Not really very happy at all with how the day ended. Never nice to be involved those sort of incidents, and now I’ll really have to get some good starts to stand a chance. It isn’t an easy track to ride, and with the rain, it made it really slippery and even trickier. I just need to focus on myself and making it happen because I really don’t think I was too far off the pace of the leaders."

Now onto Sardinia in two weeks time, for round four of the title chase and you just know that Vialle, in his rookie season in MXGP will want to continue what has been a sensational start to his 450 career.