On paper, the beginning of Tom Vialle’s 250SX East class title defense this year has been rather quiet, with the Red Bull KTM racer favoring consistency over early-season fireworks, and it’s with this method that he now holds the championship points lead after four rounds.

Any rider entering a season with the number one plate arrives with lofty expectations and pressure, after all, you were the alpha-male in the previous year’s championship, meaning the establishment of the same order seems necessary.

And while this is the case, there are a variety of ways to manage this. To the average person, a dominant victory at the opening round would seem the most logical way to send such a message. For Vialle, however, a fifth place finish following a fall in qualifying at round one was a reasonable way to begin the season.

“I had a big crash through the whoops in qualifying, so I was lucky to get away with that one,” Vialle commented after the opener. “I didn’t feel great in practice or qualifying, although I felt a bit better for the night show and P5 for our first main event of the year is not bad, and although it’s not where we want to be, we’ll build from here and get better for next weekend.”

Image: Octopi Media.

The early season headlines belonged to Max Anstie (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), who dominated round one, then Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), after he triumphed in Detroit, before RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) was the man to beat in Daytona.

This led to the following narrative building for defending champion Vialle – where was his speed at? Was he in contention with the other riders? And was Anstie the favorite? True to his nature, however, none of this seemed to penetrate through to the Frenchman, whose measured demeanour typically sees this type of disruption bounce off his shoulders without causing any emotional turmoil.

A representation of his stoic attitude could be best seen during last year’s title interactions with the always-antagonistic Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), with Deegan’s antics at the Salt Lake City round designed to throw Vialle off his game by unsettling his mental equilibrium.

And despite multiple attempts, Vialle shrugged off any controversy, with focus strictly remaining on the job at hand, and he delivered with the 250SX East crown.

Image: Octopi Media.

Fourth position at the second round in Detroit this year was another step in the right direction for Vialle, before a P2 finish at Daytona marked his first podium of the championship, with momentum and speed building. On this same night, title-contender Kitchen was knocked out of the series after a high-speed fall in the main event.

“I was close with the leaders tonight, we were going back and forth, but the track was super-tricky – if you missed a rhythm, you’d lose a second or two pretty easily,” explained Vialle after Daytona. “I think second place is the best that we had tonight, although I am happy with that. I’m happy to stay close in the championship, because that is the goal.”

And with that post-Daytona comment, we can see how the two-time MX2 world champion prioritizes his mental focus – to remain close in the championship, because that is the goal.

This means that while Hampshire engaged in a tuff block altercation at round one resulting in a P18 finish, Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) experienced a big fall and subsequent DNF in Detroit, and Kitchen took a championship-ending impact in Daytona, Vialle has had his eyes on the ultimate prize – to get through the opening rounds clean, and go after another number one plate.

Image: Octopi Media.

Another second-place finish during Saturday night’s 250SX East/West Showdown in Indianapolis inched Vialle that much closer to the goal, with another measured comment giving an insight into the overall strategy, and enough points to reclaim the eastern regional red plate.

“Overall, today was a pretty good day,” Vialle said following Indianapolis. “I started slow in Tampa and Detroit, then Daytona was a good turning point last weekend – I got close to the win and then the same this weekend. I spent the main event behind Seth [Hammaker], and I was trying to catch him, but he was riding good. The track was very tricky tonight, so I am pretty happy with second and we’re right in the championship, which is where we want to be.”

There’s a popular saying that, when paraphrased, talks about playing chess while others are playing checkers. And it seems that, while his competitors, the media, and fans are reading into each respective round, Vialle is focused on the big picture, undeterred by the noise, and wanting nothing more than to add another number one plate to the trophy cabinet.