race recap
TOM VIALLE GRIT-230 250MX
August 21, 2023 · Tom Vialle
TOM VIALLE | GRIT-230 | 250MX
The former MXGP standout, Tom Vialle, would look exceptionally well amongst practice laps at Budd's Creek...and continued on that prolific path as moto-one of the afternoon itinerary began. With Haiden Deegan and Jo Shimoda battling over the lead, it would be Vialle who was just behind, residing in third. The number 128 was fierce with his intensity when tackling the various downhill sections, keeping Honda's Hunter Lawrence at bay for a good while; though the pressure from the number ninety-six was beginning to amount as the clock continued to tick. Though his stake in the top-ten would be cemented as the red-flag was thrown, just around the fifteen-minute mark...where unfortunately, his third-place residency would be erased upon rolling to the starting gate once more. However, despite the field undergoing a full restart and the pack quarreling amongst a sprint-like scenario, Vialle would survive and thrive en route to a prominent fifth-place finish, ahead of Seth Hammaker. For the second-moto, Vialle would begin the series of laps in seventh, and quickly work his way into sixth. However, a hard-charging Haiden Deegan would be a tough opponent to deal with; and forced Vialle to return to seventh as they neared the halfway point of the moto. The Yamaha of Deegan then passed Ryder DiFrancesco, in which Vialle would do the same on the eleventh lap of the race. Vialle was then at a place where he acknowledged his mechanic and the riders ahead of him, with a gap beginning to amplify over the Pro Circuit rider with the conditions beginning to dry out. Each inside of the racing surface, would be rather blue-grooved if it weren't filled with ruts; and Vialle's polished sense of throttle control was a definitive factor in instances where the front and rear wheel wanted to wash-out. His pathway through the rollers that preceded the finish-line would be phenomenal, where he kept the front-end floating amid the cupped out moguls...all the while hoping to stay as close as possible to Haiden Deegan who was ahead. And with the Yamaha rider falling a few times just before the closing moments of the race, it was evident that Vialle was anxious to make the move if possible! Though not necessarily able to capitalize, the momentum of Vialle was an attribute that enabled him to secure sixth in the running order; and simultaneously capture fifth overall, before departing from Maryland.