race recap
TOM VIALLE | GRIT-207 | 250SX
February 7, 2023 · Tom Vialle
TOM VIALLE | GRIT-207 | 250SX
Categorized as one of the most talented members of this 250cc division, the resumé of Tom Vialle would speak volumes. He seized every opportunity thus far in his career and was certain to be fully focused on the task(s) at hand while competing in Southern Texas on Saturday. Surveying the track for a few laps as he took note of various edges, lips, and lines, he would unleash a plethora of power when attempting to garner his fastest lap. Unfazed by anyone around him, his line through the whoop section would promote the height of his RPM range; clicking as high as fourth gear before concluding the sector of moguls! If he could just keep this pace intact for the races to follow, his overall position (at the conclusion of the evening) would be tremendous. Fast forwarding to action in his heat race, he could then be found rumbling through turn number one with an outpouring of aggression. His engine was being used to its full capacity (again) while defending the third-place position from Jeremy Martin. Action would become rather close on laps two and three as they were nearly paralleled on the far side of the track (along with Haiden Deegan), almost locking opposing levers (i.e. clutch and front brake) while amongst one another in a sweeping maneuver. They both, would pursue Jordon Smith who was at the front of the field; doing their best to chip away at the standout rider, before time was set to expire. Scrubbing the final double before the finish-line on the white flag, it appeared as though third-place could be obtained prior to action ceasing. He made sure to limit his mistakes while remaining locked into the racing scenario he was amongst, to arrive in the aforementioned (third) as matters concluded. Shortly thereafter was the main event; and he would do his best to leap to a hole-shot (and initial lead) while participating in his first ever professional event on home soil! Leaping onto the brief stretch of straightaway that "horse-shoed" across the starting lane, time and time again he would land on the rear wheel while compressing the shock; twisting the throttle as hard as it would go, while speeding away from Hunter Lawrence and Max Anstie. And even though his lead would be short-lived, his ability to maintain third-place until lap fourteen was truly exceptional. A slight miscalculation would cause him to be off-balance in the corner after the "SX" triple and subsequently crash atop the berm; which lost a significant amount of positions, just before the race's conclusion. Residing seventh (as action ceased) the French was rider is certain to be fighting amongst the top of the field for next week's event as well.