Five minutes with Tom Vialle
Last year, Tom Vialle of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team became world champion for the first time and delivered the 13th gold number plate for the KTM 250 SX-F. Vialle is only 20 years old, but is now KTM's main MX2 pawn.
How was your winter as reigning world champion with a society in the grip of the corona pandemic?
Tom Vialle: Becoming World Champion felt like the best thing ever and it really hit me during a month-long holiday where I just stayed in France to be with family and friends. That was fun. I haven't been doing as many interviews or traveling much because of COVID-19. There were a few things we missed, like the traditional FIM Awards and the KTM Christmas party in Austria. That was a shame, but it was also a relaxing and easy time before we started training again and thinking about 2021.
The break must have been welcome because 2020 was an intense season with many races in a short time and a close duel with Jago Geerts…
Vialle: Of course. The last part of the season was really difficult because it was tough with so many races, but there was extra pressure because of the COVID situation around the championship. We were testing a lot and I tried to do things as safely as possible, which was extra tough mentally. It was a good fight with Jago and when he made a few mistakes in the middle of the season I really stayed focused and did my best.
2020 showed how every mistake and every point counts: it was an exciting battle between the two of you until the last heats…
Vialle: Yes, very much so. The goal was to become world champion and not to win every GP. I knew I had to learn to accept 2nd or 3rd place on the podium, lose a few points but then focus on winning the next weekend and taking some points back. It wasn't easy! It was my first year competing for the title and it was important not to think about things too much. When we came to Lommel (the penultimate triple header) I was already thinking about the championship and I was careful and therefore rode it a bit more safe.
Will you wear number plate #28 or #1 in 2021? And are you ready for the big challenge of defending the title you have won?
Vialle: I want to keep #28, so that will be it! 2021 is definitely a little different, but then I spent most of 2020 with the red plate so that kind of pressure is the same. Remember, when you are driving you don't see the red plate! Everyone wants to beat you, but I think I did that last year too. I like being in that position. In 2020 it was mainly me and Jago, so it was difficult to take points from him and feel a bit safe as the leader in the World Cup. That didn't happen until he started making some mistakes. I think there will be a few different riders in 2021, even with the move of Thomas Kjer Olsen and Ben Watson to MXGP. We will see. It will be an interesting year, but I think Jago Geerts will once again be my strongest opponent.
You're the leader of the team, but with 2021 being your third year in MX2, is there more work to be done in terms of development?
Vialle: Yes, we have worked a lot on the KTM 250 SX-F and the development of the racing engine. I've been riding our new bike lately, which will serve us well in 2021. I feel good on the bike. We went through the set-ups with Rene Hofer and we made good progress.
Do you have your eye on the MXGP class? If you win again in 2021, you will have to move up in 2022...
Vialle: Certainly, we thought about it a bit because, as you said, if I win again this year I will be on the 450 anyway. We saw with Jorge Prado that he was able to be quite fast and be at the front. do in the MXGP. Olsen also looked good in his first preseason races with the bigger engine. When you change bikes it's like a reset: it's a new machine, a new year, a new category, new rivals, so that brings new motivation, so to speak. I'm really focused on winning this year and we'll see what it brings for next year.
Tekst: KTM and Danny Hermans
Photos: KTM
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