Tom Vialle is returning to Europe as he joins the Honda HRC team for a multi-year deal in the FIM Motocross World Championship series. Vialle is set to make his 450cc debut with the team and will compete in the MXGP division starting in 2026. He’s also set to debut on the red ride this weekend in front of his home crowd at the Paris Supercross. Vialle is already a two-time MX2 World Champion and this change marks the first time he has ridden for a new team since turning professional. The team also announced that Ruben Fernandez will continue his time at Honda HRC while longtime rider Tim Gajser is expected to depart in 2026.
“This is obviously a big change for me, but I felt it was the right change at this point in my career,” said Vialle. “I have a lot of experience riding in the world championships, so I’ve always kept an eye on the series and how things are going over there and when I found out that Honda HRC were interested in signing me, I knew that I wasn’t going to get a better opportunity. I’ve seen what they’ve been able to achieve on the track, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them as a team off the track, so this just seemed like the perfect time to come back to the world championship series and try to continue my previous world championship success into the MXGP class. I know it won’t be easy, and there’ll be a big learning curve to get used to the Honda CRF450R, but I’m confident in my abilities and I can’t wait to get started!”
Helping him adjust to the MXGP class will be returning Ruben Fernandez, who has re-signed with Honda HRC, as he attempts to better his fourth place in 2025 World Championship and add to his win and podium tally with the team. The Spaniard showed a lot of speed and consistency last year, and alongside Vialle will provide a high-level threat on their Honda CRF450Rs.
First though for Vialle, we will see him at the Paris SX, giving him a gate-drop in front of his home crowd, allowing him to ease himself into the team dynamic, whilst his countrymen cheer him on and welcome back one of their own. Then the preparations begin for a 2026 MXGP campaign that concludes with the Motocross of Nations being held in Ernee, France – a track where Vialle won the MXON previously in 2023.
“I think Tom joining Honda HRC is a big statement and quite a coup for the team,” said team manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas. “He’s a double world champion in motocross and a two-time SX champion as well, so to be able to get someone as talented as he is, to join the team at this stage of his career just shows that we are doing all the right things. Of course, this will be the first time he’ll be racing on a 450cc machine, but throughout his career he’s dealt with changes and new environments, so we are all confident that he’ll be able to adapt to the Honda CRF450R. He has the Paris SX race first up, which is something new to our team, so we’ll all be learning together there, but after that it’ll be purely motocross and trying to get him ready for the 2026 MXGP World Championship.”
