Tom Vialle claimed his first overall victory in the MXGP class at the MXGP of Switzerland, delivering an impressive performance in just his third appearance in the premier class.
The Honda HRC Petronas rider dominated the opening moto from the front, making full use of his gate pick to lead every lap on a challenging and technical Frauenfeld circuit.
Race two proved a completely different story, as Vialle found himself outside the top 20 early on. However, the Frenchman produced a stunning charge through the field to finish sixth, securing the overall victory in dramatic fashion.
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Incredibly, Vialle didn’t even realise he had won the Grand Prix until reaching the podium, highlighting just how chaotic the conditions were across the day. His performance across two contrasting motos showed both speed and racecraft, marking him as an early contender in the MXGP class.
With the result moving him to within seven points of the championship lead, Vialle has already shown he can compete across a variety of conditions and could be a serious threat as the season develops.
Tom Vialle:
“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 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.”
Images courtesy of HRC – @shotbybavo
