Tom Vialle gets his first career win on the biggest stage that motorsports can offer: Daytona Int’l Speedway.
Vialle rode the momentum from last weekend in Arlington where he claimed his first career podium finish. Saturday was a true team effort with a smart decision to not take the hot lap before the gate drop. Rain began to have a strong effect on the track surface, adding mud build up to the bikes of those who did take the pace lap. That gave Vialle a weight advantage throughout the 15-minute main event.
“It’s nice to grab that win,” shared the Frenchman. “I had my first podium last weekend and first win today in Daytona. Track was tough. I actually feel good, I could have [ridden] like 30 minutes, I think. So, it’s pretty nice, bike was nice. I didn’t have a great start, but I passed a lot of guys and just feel so good. It’s amazing to win and I want to thank everyone – my team, everyone who works with me during the week, my trainer – really everyone who supports me; and all those fans.
“It’s amazing to ride here in Daytona, so thank you everyone.”
Cameron Mcadoo led the opening four laps but a mistake dropped him to the runner-up position. Despite not getting the center step, it was still a strong day for the No. 63 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider to gain valuable championship points on Max Anstie with night of struggles.
“It was really about patience, and I think I did run out of a little bit of patience a couple times, and maybe [that] cost me that lead,” reflected Mcadoo. “I love coming to Daytona and just for the opportunity to be here and do what I love to do is awesome. I had a great time out there and we’re just going to keep plugging away. This is a dream life that I get and I’m just so grateful for it. If you would’ve told Cameron McAdoo even five years ago that this would be his life, he would’ve laughed. So this is my dream, it’s coming true. Shout out to everyone, my family back home, my mom and dad, they didn’t get to make it out. Without them none of this is possible.
“I’m just grateful for the position I’m in and I’m excited to keep working at this.”
Third was claimed by Seth Hammaker, who seemed to be one of the few riders to have a quiet and uneventful night. Usually that would result in a poor finish but considering the tough, unique conditions is sometimes all that a racing athlete could ask for.
“[I’m] stoked on that ride,” Hammaker stated. “I got off to a pretty good start and me and Haiden were going at it for the first couple laps. He bobbled in the sand, got around him, and I was actually able to pull a gap on them, so that felt nice. I just kind of failed to hit my lines consistently, but yeah, [overall, I’m] stoked on that ride here at Daytona.”
At one point in the race, three riders were tied for the championship lead, but after three races, Max Anstie leads the 250SX East division by a single point over Cameron Mcadoo and Pierce Brown. Vialle’s win moves him up to fourth in the standings, tied with Haiden Deegan, just three points behind the red plate. Coty Schock continues a career-best as he sits sixth, four points behind the top slot. Daxton Bennick finishes the trio of Yahama riders in seventh just eight marks below Anstie.
The East division races this weekend in Birmingham at Protective Stadium with a scheduled gate drop at 7:00 p.m. ET.