TOM VIALLE

After claiming a 250SX Supercross Championship just weeks ago, KTM’s Tom Vialle seemed ecstatic to begin the outdoor series for the 2024 season. His previous endeavors on the MXGP circuit certainly provided an immense amount of confidence, and as practice began on Saturday, he was instantly labeled as a contender for overall podium accolades. The crowd would applaud as he exited the raceway for time(d) trials, and with an excellent start to the first moto (where he took the early lead) Vialle seemed well on his way to striving for a gold medal overall. The number sixteen was flourishing throughout powder berms and ruts alike, countering every move that Levi Kitchen (who was second) put forth. However, just as the third lap concluded and the fourth lap began, a miscalculation (where he leapt from a single just before the first corner) would cause him to land within deepening soil on the outside of the circuit. The impact would stun his momentum — and enable Kitchen to work his way by. Now second, he did everything possible to regain the lead...but in the meantime, would have to deal with a hard-charging presence of Haiden Deegan. This led to a climactic point, for the French rider — where he would go off track in the roller section, but made his way back on...ahead of the Californian. This, would be a pivotal moment post-race...but he continued onward, before being passed by Deegan on the fifth circuit, in the corner after the finish line as well. Now into the third place residency, he remained here for the duration of the fifteen-lap contest — appearing, to be registered in third, before a penalty of “one position lost” would be designated to him...deterring him to fourth, before heading to the gate for the second portion of competition. Once there, he would work his way into fourth after making his way past Nate Thrasher and Ryder DiFrancesco. However, a wash-out would throw him to the ground just before the seven-minute mark of the moto... nullifying his momentum while also losing a bit of positioning within the top-ten. However, he remounted to gain an eventual standing of fifth, while keeping the aforementioned Bakersfield native and Jo Shimoda at bay. Honda’s Shimoda wasn’t going to let Vialle walk away that easily, however, and remained persistent in the background when both stormed into the tightest of corners on the circuit. This motivated Vialle to engage in an even higher output of speed, where he not only tracked-down Nate Thrasher but he than also overtook Jalek Swoll with roughly four laps to go! Once into third, he couldn’t be rattled by any member of the competition — and he was focused on nothing else, but generating as many points as possible at the checkered flag. Ultimately ending the day with scores of four and three, his bronze medal overall kept him well in contention for the red-plate amongst the 250MX classification.