MXGP Weltmeisterschaft

Insight: Tom Vialle secures first victory in style at Southwick

Frenchman gives his view on a brilliant day at the office.

Published

5 months ago

July 9, 2023

Taming the sands of Southwick masterfully to claim his first first Pro Motocross overall victory, Tom Vialle cut a delighted figure when speaking in the post-race press conference. Read the Red Bull KTM star’s insights from an action-packed day, where the two-time MX2 champion spoke on topics like his adaptation to racing in America, how Southwick stacks up compared to European sand tracks and working with Marvin Musquin.

Question: Tom Vialle. First AMA National win and moto win – congratulations. What does it mean to you to win your first AMA National and what are your thoughts on this track and the conditions today at Southwick?

Tom Vialle: It means a lot. I had a few tough races and took time, you know, even to be on the podium. Was tough to be honest and I’m getting everything together now. I feel better on the bike and starting to feel like myself again like last year. So I think we are in a good way for the end of the season. Track was nice, but like I said on the podium, I know the sand, and the track is way different than for example Lommel. The track underneath was hard here, but it was nice. It was nice to be back on the sand and hopefully we can continue like this next weekend.

Q: When you were in Europe, you spent a lot of time in Lommel and in the bottomless sand of the Netherlands and Belgium. You mentioned this track has a hard base. I guess how did you feel on this track considering the conditions?

TV: Yeah, I mean in Europe all the teams are more or less based in Belgium so we have done lots (of riding) in the sand in the winter. We used to do a lot in the sand. I mean, the track is a little bit different, and was kind of hard so it’s in no way like Lommel this track. But maybe like close to Valkenswaard or a track like this that’s hard underneath. And I mean I liked the track, it was pretty nice. Actually it was not super rough. It was rough, but more like small braking bumps, like not big waves like we can see in Lommel. But it was nice and I had some fun.

Q: Tom, we talk about getting a comfortable setup in the Nationals and obviously in the European races in MXGP you get to ride more of a specialised motorcycle. Has it taken you a little bit to get a bike that you feel comfortable that’s more familiar with what you rode that you used for your two world championships.

TV: The weekend is way different, you know, we don’t have so much time .That’s maybe why I struggle a little bit in the first moto, but I mean like everyone told me early in the first practice you have to do a good lap because it’s often the fastest. And even on the first lap I jumped the finish jump, like it’s not a big jump, but I don’t even know about it, as I’ve never jumped it before. And I have to go from the second lap full gas almost so it’s pretty tough. I am not this kind of rider normally, I try to anticipate the track and take some time – like in Europe, where we had like 30 minutes of free practice. Yeah, after two or three laps, you have to ride like it’s almost 100% so it’s pretty tough. I’m getting used to it, actually getting better each weekend on time practice. But for sure it’s not easy.

Q: Tom. I believe this is the first to 250 win for KTM since Marvin was in the class, and I know Marvin has been helping you and mentoring you as you adjust to the U.S. Can you talk about that relationship, how he’s been an asset to you? And you know, maybe also now what that kind of means to you now that you’re starting a new chapter for KTM in the 250 class?

TV: Yeah, so I started to work with Marvin for the outdoors. I mean, I needed someone close and who knows the tracks and he helps me a lot from his experience. He’s ridden here for many years so you know, he knows a lot about each track. And we talk a lot before the motos about the lines and stuff and trying to help get me a little bit more comfortable on the track and that is working pretty good so far.

Lead Image: KTM

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Lead Image: Antonio Cairoli / Ducati

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MXGP Weltmeisterschaft

JK Racing Yamaha signs Isak Gifting for the 2024 MXGP season

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Published

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Words: Press Release | Lead Image: JK Racing

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Australian Motocross

Stat Attack: Top Threes of 2023

Read now.

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2023

Edward Stratmann

As we look towards the 2024 season, MX Vice and Paul Pearcy have joined forces again to deliver some quality statistics, as we’ll be running through the top 10 in each championship across 2023 (MXGP, MX2, 450, 250 – AMA Supercross, SMX and Outdoors and Australian Supercross). Here are all the riders that secured 3rd in their respective title races.

MX2

3) Simon Laengenfelder

1st in Timed Practice: 5; Trentino, Agueda, Lommel, Uddevalla, Afyonkarahisar
Qualifying Race Wins: 5; Trentino, Vantaa, Afyonkarahisar, Maggiora, Matterley Basin (2nd most wins in class)
Qualifying Race Podiums: 13; out of 16 attempts (81% podium rate in qualifying races, best percentage in class)
Qualifying Race Laps Led: 57; (2nd best in class)
Race Podiums: 18; 3rd most in class
Race Wins: 8; 2nd most in class
GP Podiums: 9; 3rd most in class
GP Wins: 2; 1-1 at Intu Xanadu, Uddevalla
Race Laps Led: 141; (21% of total laps, 2nd most in class)

Averages

Timed Practice: 3.187; Best in class
Qualifying Race Finishes: 2.875; Best in Class
Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3.562; Best in Class
Qualifying Race Points: 131; Most in Class
Race Finishes: 3.375 in Race 1(Best in Class), 3.875 in Race 2(3rd best in class)
GP Overalls: 3.5; 2nd best in class
Race First Lap Position: 4.968; 3rd best in class
Race Points: 321 from Race 1(2nd most in class), 303 from Race 2(4th best in class), Total of 624

Series Points: 755

MXGP

3) Jeremy Seewer

1st in Timed Practice: 1; Frauenfeld
Qualifying Race Podiums: 6; Intu Xanadu, Villars Sous Ecot, Teutschenthal, Sumbawa, Loket, Uddevalla
Qualifying Race Laps Led: 2
Race Podiums: 15
Race Wins: 2; Race 1 at Villars Sous Ecot, Race 2 at Uddevalla
GP Podiums: 7
GP Wins: 3; Villars Sous Ecot, Uddevalla, Maggiora
Race Laps Led: 62; (9% of total laps)

Averages

Timed Practice: 4.421; 4th best in class
Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.778
Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5.222; 4th best in class
Qualifying Race Points: 105; 4th best in class
Race Finishes: 6.157 in Race 1, 4.157 in Race 2(3rd best in class)
GP Overalls: 4.684; 3rd best in class
Race First Lap Position: 6.842
Race Points: 310 from Race 1, 344 from Race 2, Total of 654 (3rd most in class)

Series Points: 759

250 West Coast Supercross

3) Levi Kitchen

Heat Race Podiums: 4
Heat Race Wins: 3; Seattle, Denver, Salt lake City
Heat Race Laps Led: 26
Main Event Podiums: 4; Anaheim 2, Glendale, Denver, Salt Lake City
Main Event Win: 1; Anaheim 2
Main Event Laps Led: 20; (11% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 5th
Heat Race Finishes: 2.857; 3rd best in class
Heat Race First Lap Position: 5th
Main Event Finishes: 6.556
Main Event First Lap Position: 7.253

Series Points: 156

250 East Supercross

3) Max Anstie

1st in Qualifying: 1; Houston
Heat Race Podiums: 3; Houston, Indy, Nashville
Heat Race Laps Led: 3
Main Event Podiums: 4; Houston, Tampa, Daytona, East Rutherford
Main Event Win: 1; East Rutherford
Main Event Laps Led: 14; (8% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 4.7
Heat Race Finishes: 4.667
Heat Race First Lap Position: 5.333
Main Event Finishes: 5.7; 4th best in class
Main Event First Lap Position: 4.741; 2nd best in class

Series Points: 182

450 Supercross

3) Cooper Webb

Heat Race Podiums: 7
Heat Race Wins: 2; Seattle, Atlanta
Heat Race Laps Led: 19
Main Event Podiums: 9
Main Event Wins: 2; Tampa, Arlington
Main Event Laps Led: 17; (3% of total laps)

Averages

Qualifying: 6.133
Heat Race Finishes: 4.5
Heat Race First Lap Position: 4.181
Main Event Finishes: 2.785; 2nd best in class
Main Event First Lap Position: 4.307; 3rd best in class

Series Points: 304

250 American Outdoors

3) Jo Shimoda

Moto Podiums: 10
Moto Wins: 3; Moto 2 at Southwick, 1-1 at Ironman
Overall Podiums: 4; Southwick, Millville, Budds Creek, Ironman
Overall Wins: 1; Ironman
Moto Laps Led: 53

Averages

Qualifying: 6.363
Moto Finishes: 4.636 in Moto 1, 4.545 in Moto 2(2nd best in class)
Overall Finishes: 4.454 (3rd best in class)
Moto First Lap Position: 6.545

Series Points: 393

450 American Outdoors

3) Aaron Plessinger

Moto Podiums: 5; Moto 1 at Hangtown, Moto 2 at Thunder Valley, Moto 2 at Washougal, Moto 2 at Budds Creek, Moto 2 at Ironman
Overall Podiums: 3; Thunder Valley, Budds Creek, Ironman
Moto Laps Led: 7; 3rd most in class

Averages