TOM VIALLE

Hoping to make a lasting impression on both, the industry and fans of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, was France’s Tom Vialle. The KTM rider was seeking to rekindle the same streak of success that propelled him to a Supercross title earlier this year, and made sure to place his name into the miix of potential race winners, for the Ironman National as athletes took the course in the early hours of Saturday morning. He immediately adapted to the abundance of elevation change as he established prominent lap-times, and his determination in the early stages of the first moto would generate applause from the crowd. He would take an early lead, with a multitude of fierce competitors clawing at his rear wheel — but nothing seemed to rattle the French rider as time progressed. He was proficient in every sector of the course, carving through ruts and berms alike with the ultimate amount of fluidity. His body position, RPM range, and shifting points were top-tier — which, when combined, led to lap-times that allowed him to extend the gap over athletes like Jordon Smith and Levi Kitchen. He (Vialle) would periodically glance to lanes of the racetrack that were behind him, noticing how far the gap had been stretched. And as all would conclude, his margin (of around four and a half seconds) was sustained through the final jump, for Vialle to claim the victory! For the second moto, Tom’s jump from the line was incredible — and led to both, the hole-shot and first lap lead. He was in front of Chance Hymas, whom he would slightly sprint away from before Haiden Deegan entered into the equation on the fourth circuit. He and the Yamaha rider would go back and forth for one of the most extensive battles of the season — crossing lines, and watching one another’s movement while using every aspect of the raceway! When one athlete appeared to definitely take the lead, another would quickly retaliate...and vice versa! They were bar-to-bar before Deegan finally, made a defining pass in the corner that was next to the mechanic’s area on the tenth circuit...which generate ample room for the Californian to move forward, en route to the finish line. Though simultaneously, Vialle’s energy levels began to subside just a bit...which resulted in the French racer being overtaken by Chance Hymas and R.J. Hampshire as well. Though Vialle’s fortitude would power him to an eventual score of fourth at the checkered flag — which, when compared to the other assembly of statistics for the rest of the class, was strong enough for him to claim the overall win in the 250MX division!