race recap
TOM VIALLE - GRIT 234 250SMX
September 27, 2023 · Tom Vialle

TOM VIALLE | GRIT-234 | 250 SMX
Tirelessly continuing to try and improve his race-craft aboard the "SX" circuit, the French athlete aboard the number 128KTM machine would be eager to excel amongst this hybrid course per se while stationed in Los Angeles, California. The road to the end of the 2023 season had been filled with highs and lows, but Viallecertainly remained steadfast through it all to arrive at the LA Memorial Coliseum with his sights set on concluding the calendar year with a strong finish. As he then clicked into gear and would watch the thirty-second board go sideways, only mere moments would separate him from a swarm of competitors surging into the initial bend with fearlessness - though he proceeded to tower atop the finish-line double on lap one rather confidently to acquire a first-place standing after making a fearless move on Jalek Swoll in the immediate stages of the moto. Throttling amongst the rutted bowl turns, his inner-foot peg would scrape the canvas while he leaned the chassis of the 250F with strength and precision; never wavering as he flew into obstacles thereafter with the rear wheel constantly propelling him forward. However, amid the confidence that was gained as he led the field around, would be a hard-charging rider by the name of Haiden Deegan who was just behind...seemingly trying to infiltrate the lead position in every facet of the raceway! Yet Vialle engaged in a line of thorough defense, which would keep Deegan behind him through lap ten...where another Yamaha opponent actually made his way into the equation! It was none other than Jordon Smith who eventually made the pass on the former MXGP champion, moving Vialle into second on lap eleven. RJ Hampshire was the next opponent who approached, and though Vialle put forth a strong effort to keep the Floridian behind him, it was to no avail - and Tom's then standing (of third) was the final residency to be claimed, as the checkered flag waved. Onto the next moto, both he and the field would go...where he then did his best to avoid slamming into countless opponents that had engulfed the initial portion of racetrack. However, Dilan Schwartz (who had tangled with Jordon Smith in the corner prior) was the adversary who then took him a bit wide in the corner before the finish-line - sending his KTM off the racetrack, where Vialle had to rebound from the last place position! There was nowhere to go but up, on Vialle's behalf; therefore a process of hard-charging, sly maneuvering, and bold passes per se were on tap if he wanted to acquire a top-ten overall. Eventually making his way into thirteenth by the time all was said and done, Vialle's commendable charge would propel him to tenth-place overall - which concluded his 2023 season in the United States, on a high note.