HRC factory rider, Tom Vialle after his one-two-four results across the weekend, can also be very happy with his weekend, after his two-four motos today that included leading laps in both races.

Battling with Herlings in race one and then once again grabbing an excellent start in the second moto meant that he really has got to grips with the Honda CRF450RW is very quick time. Scoring 50 points over the weekend is an excellent tally and while he wasn’t sure where he’d place coming into this round, he now knows he is very much a challenger for the rest of the season.

“It feel really nice to be here," Vialle said. "Up on the podium. I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, because there is a lot of good riders in the GPs. Obviously yesterday was good and I felt comfortable taking the win in the qualification race. Then today, again I was feeling good and it was nice to lead some of the race before Jeffrey passed me. My intensity was pretty good in the first few laps, but I did make a couple of mistakes later, but overall I am very happy with my first weekend with Honda HRC PETRONAS.”

"We started feeling good on the bike. The first moto I was happy with my start and we have been working on this, the start is very important. I was close to Jeffrey and the second one I lost a lot of energy and then I stalled the bike and mistakes we need to fix. It is a long weekend, we arrive a lot on the track a little too much I would say. Saturday is long but its the same for everyone. I felt good and I had a good start in the re-start, but somebody hit me, but my intensity was good. This type of track is not my favourite track, but we did our best."

Vialle made the perfect start to his weekend on the Honda HRC PETRONAS career, as he took the holeshot and won the 2026 MXGP of Argentina qualifying race. In what is also his debut in the MXGP class, the Frenchman rode a flawless race on his Honda CRF450RW to lead from the first turn and control the moto in front of a plethora of world champions and GP race winners.

Second in free practice and then third in timed practice showed that he was immediately at home in this MXGP field, and when he stormed off to a trademark holeshot – something he has specialised in his whole career – he looked extremely comfortable.

Despite pressure from behind the entire moto, the #16 rode smoothly on a tricky Bariloche circuit and took the chequered flag for the maximum 10 points, which will give him the red-plate for the two motos tomorrow.

“Very happy to get the win (on saturday), and a great start to the season. I didn’t know where I’d place coming into this year, so it is nice to see that my speed is good enough for the front of this field. I had a good winter of work and I’d like to thank the team for all their effort and for trusting in me, and it is good to repay them so quickly. It is only one qualifying race but it is nice to be running the red-plate.”

Vialle now heads to Spain for round two in two weeks time and we all now know that he is at the speed of the fastest GP riders in the world and anything is possible. A surprise for many, including myself, this two time world motocross champion will without question be a contender in these early rounds.