TOM VIALLE | GRIT-218 | 250SX

TOM VIALLE | GRIT-218 | SX 250

A newcomer to the AMA SX Series, KTM's Tom Vialle would look to bring a mirrored intensity to the starting line in Nashville, as he possessed at the beginning of the championship just months ago. Though the Supercross circuit was demanding and demanded attrition, it was Tom Vialle who'd demonstrated perseverance and made his presence known to the rest of the 250cc East Coast battalion; presenting (yet again) a flurry of astounding lap-times as he rounded the circuit of Nissan Stadium around the 10:00 a.m. hour. This track would possess moisture from precipitation in days prior, but his knowledge of tire placement and body position would be evident amongst this deceivingly slick circuit. He would manage to find a bit of powder (and traction) at the top of the berm just after the whoop section, clinging to the handlebars as he sped toward the finish line…accruing a spot in heat one where one half of the division was set to do battle. Immediately, it would be Jordon Smith who took the lead and presented a series of lap-times in which the competition would have to abide by. However he (Vialle) was on a solid trajectory of his own, despite having to defend a series of inside lines (in the switchback section) from none other than Luke Neese who was within striking distance. Managing to keep his weight atop the foot-pegs as small acceleration bumps were amassed, it seemed as though the aforementioned opponent (Neese) wanted to make a run on the fourth circuit prior to the rhythm lane that was paralleled with the whoop section! However in an arcing manner, he would nullify the momentum of his adversary and proceed to leap over the first triple in the smallest of windows; tapping the rear brake with precision before settling his KTM chassis into the last two transitions. It was then an all out sprint to the finish line, where his aspirations would have to be noted by all who trailed; until an unfortunate miscue would (slightly) derail his momentum, and push him to sixth in the final running order. For the final moto of the day, his position on the first lap would be sustained in eighth, though he attacked the corner before the "SX" triple with a means of overwhelming rampant aggression. His rear wheel would clench the soil beneath the chassis as he landed from the final single into the forthcoming left and right handed corner(s), keeping his timing at the correct threshold as he amassed sixth and seven laps in the log book. He began to glance to his right prior to exiting the corner prior to the dragon's back, knowing that Kawasaki's Chris Blose was closing in; and in particular, in the rhythm lane before the sand section. Therefore he would switch-up his combination of triples, to the outside, which allowed him to harness his momentum throughout the entirety of the segment, rather than in short spurts. And with his ability to be ever-changing on the Nashville circuit, his eventual push in the final stages would result in seventh place being logged in the final standing(s), amongst immense competition in the state of Tennessee.

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