TOM VIALLE

Though undergoing a serious crash in the early stages of qualifying on Saturday afternoon, France’s Tom Vialle would once again fight-back amongst adverse variables and thrive as the night show came to fruition. Beginning with the second heat, the KTM athlete began the quest to the checkered flag in sixth while battling with opponents like Seth Hammaker. Following the path of top-tier athletes around the rest of the course, Vialle’s speed through the sand embodied an MXGP explosiveness that seemed elite...it was second-to-none as he flew through the outside of the berm, upshifting and using the clutch as he flew into the technical rhythm lane thereafter. He and Honda’s Chance Hymas seemed to be on a similar trajectory as minutes continued to pass...with the rookie rider showing a resilient line of defense to the European prospect who was urgently searching for ways around. Tom remained solidified in the fifth-place standing with the checkered flag nearing, and as he scrubbed the number sixteen machine over the “SX” triple for the final occasion...he would advance to the main event with a gate choice inside the top-ten. Clicking into gear for the finalé, he knew that generating a strong start was an imminent matter...and proceeded to sustain a sixth-place regard, as the narrative began to unfold. Though losing a position to Chance Hymas around a quarter of the way in, Vialle immediately countered and passed both, the Idaho native and Nicholas Romano as well! Seeing Seth Hammaker in the foreground at that point, it was on lap thirteen when the KTM rider found his way forward...now behind Cameron McAdoo, Austin Forkner, and Haiden Deegan. Vialle was established and appeared to be in complete control of the motorcycle in the final stages....but knew that the riders ahead of him were moving forward with a valiant pace. So much so, that leader Austin Forkner would make an unfortunate mistake which resulted in a subsequent DNF. At that stage, Vialle continued to press forward while now located in the third-place residency...but with Seth Hammaker behind him, Tom couldn’t relinquish the aspiration to move forward. Or else, the Kawasaki athlete was going to take the podium position from him! Nevertheless, leaping through the whoops and over the gradual tabletop thereafter, Vialle flourished within the third-place ride...earning a magnificent podium accolade, for the second round of the East Coast SX Championship.