Tom Vialle joins Honda HRC for the 2026 MXGP World Championship, returning from America after a successful stint that included two Supercross 250cc titles. This comes after the young Frenchman won two MX2 titles prior to leaving, and it is the hope from everyone at Honda that he is able to continue this success when he swings his leg over the Honda CRF450R.

Already a two time world motocross champion, if the youngster can win another world title, he will become the most successful rider in Frances GP history.

Current world MXGP champion, Romain Febvre must be considered the most successul at the moment with his two titles in the premier class, but of course, the all-time great J. M. Bayle won two titles, one in the 125cc class and one in the 250cc class, while Seb Tortelli did the same, Mickeal Pichon won two in the 250cc class, as did Frederik Bolley.

Other Frenchmen to win world motocross championships are Marvin Musquin, who won two in MX2. Mickeal Maschio, Jordi Tixier, Maxime Renaux, Jacky Vimond, Christophe Pourcel all won a single world title.

Of course, Yves Demaria won three in MX3, Pierre Renet won one, but I really struggle to call that class, in that period of time a world championship, but it was. In the womens titles chase, Livia Lancelot won two titles in the womens class.

Below is an interview HRC organized for the world press and the questions and answers are below. Vialle looked good in his pre-season appearance in Mantova and will race a French international this weekend.

Geoff Meyer: Tom, another world championship would put you with three world titles, something that no Frenchman has been able to do in the major classes (outside of Yves Demaria in the MX3 class). Is this something that’s a goal of yours or how do you feel about becoming possibly the most successful French world champion?

Tom Vialle: I actually didn’t know that, but now it will be obviously my dream and my goal for the next years. This is my first year on the 450 class so I have a lot to learn. It’s also a new bike, a new team for me, so a lot to learn but hopefully we can achieve it and like you said that would be awesome if we can do it.

Pascal Haudiquert: Tom, after several seasons in the US, what do you think is going to be the most difficult thing to adapt being back in Europe again or what has been the most difficult thing?

Tom Vialle: Um, I think the bike. This is a new class like I’ve said for me, this is a new class so getting used to the power of the 450, race new guys that I’ve never used to race before. So there’s a lot of new things that I need to get used to it. But also the tracks, I mean we all know the track in the US and in Europe are a little bit different. The good things is I know the track but I have to get a little bit back in the rhythm and get to know again the type of tracks. It’s a long weekend in MXGP, we have two days of racing so a couple things that I have to adapt again but I’m sure it will be quick and I did four seasons here in Europe in the 250 class so I know how the system and the race weekend goes so it will be a quick to adapt again.

Edward Heather: Tom, you had tremendous success in your 250 career with championships in America and the World Championships of course. Now you’re making the step up to the 450 class, what do you set as your expectations for this year and what would be a successful year for you this year?

Tom Vialle: It’s hard to say. I’ve just done my first race in Mantova my first 450 race so it’s hard to say. GP and the preseason race is always quite a big difference but try to build step by step during the season. Of course the first step is to be on the podium and try to fight for win if we can, that’s the goal and be as consistent as possible it’s a long season we have almost 20 GPs so a lot can happen and try to be there every weekend that’s my goal and try to be better and build through the season and see. I can’t really say my expectation because I haven’t raced a first GP in the 450 class so we will see after Argentina where we are and then we try to improve of course for the next races and be better during the season.

Jonathan McCready: Tom Vialle, Chase Sexton says he’s very excited to watch the GPs this year because you’re in it, you obviously had a very good relationship, but he says he wants to race you in Ernée, France. Would you be excited for that and are you looking forward to Ernée, France potentially for being part of Team France?

Tom Vialle: Yeah, I mean we all know the Nations is always a big race especially in France in Ernée. I was there in 2023 and we won the race. So that was one of the best weekends of my life. It was really a crazy weekend with so many fans so hopefully this year I can be able to race. Of course, it is Team France who decide the selection of the rider and it would be nice to ride against Chase finally. I was in the US in the 250 class he was always in the 450 class so we’ve been training a lot together for the last two years but yeah if I’m selected to do the Motocross of Nations it would be nice to race against him.

David Bulmer: Next we have Tom Vialle, who’s come back from America to join the Honda HRC team this year for the first time in the MXGP class. How’s that transition been? Obviously you were in Europe before, but what’s it been like being back in Europe and how have you adapted so far?

Tom Vialle: Yeah, it’s been nice actually. I’ve been three years in the US and then I was four years before that here in Europe. It’s my first 450 season, so the winter so far has been pretty good. So the goal is to be obviously in the next year try to be as successful as I did in the 250 class, so yeah I’m trying to work as hard as I can to get there and the 450 still a lot of things to learn. But yeah, the goal is to work hard and get there as soon as possible.