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I was listening to an old McGrath podcast and he referenced racing Tom Vialle's dad, Frederic, a couple times at Paris SX and MXDN. Random, I know, but any 90's MXGP fans care to fill me in on him? Sounded like he was pretty good? How long did he race for?
He was a pretty damn good 125 gp rider in the 90s . Won his share of motos . I don't think he won a title .
I remember him racing a handful of SX in the mid 90's. I think he was on a Chesterfield Yamaha. (I looked it up, swore he rode for Chesterfield but it says Kawasaki)
https://vault.racerxonline.com/rider/frederic-vialle/races
His best was 3rd place in the 125 World Championship in 1996 , behind Tortelli and Paul Malin.
He was a really good 125 rider, i dont recall him much on a 250, but it was deep as in both classes back then.
Saw him race loads of times, proper talented rider, but was around at the same time as Tortelli, Villumin, and Roncada amongst others when the French were producing riders at a rate nobody else in Europe could match.
I think he had a few injuries too.
Also podiumed at MXoN in 1994 when France finished 3rd Behind GB and USA,
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Bolley rode for Chesterfield Yamaha for years. But not Vialle (Yamaha Motor France, but not with Chesterfield as main sponsor).
Vialle rode the 250cc category in World Championship only one year in 1999, with Champ KTM. Not a good year at all for him.
And there was a particularity during his career : he was NEVER seriously injured !
At the end of the 1997 season, he almost signed a contract with Payton to ride for team Pro Circuit in USA.
But it finally didnt happen.
Fred was a prominent 125 GP racer in the 90s.
No titke, but he was consistently at the sharp end.
I remember Bercy one year he was strong- may have been 1991.
He's been multi-time French Champion Supercross, in an era where you where fighting with Thierry Bethys, Michael Maschio, Fred Boley, Yves Demaria, Serge Guidetty ... all raced that championship (even the races in the summer).
I hv quite a few 90,s gp series vids. Yeah he was fast and at the front a lot. With some moto wins. 95 125 season is on yt. The last round Alex Puzar killer style & Chiodi both Italian tied or 1 point apart. Great race Vialle was 2nd then lost his seat. 91-99 the 125 gp,s where stacked with Super talented riders.
You are correct, memory fails me again. LOL Did Bolley ride 250SX? I really enjoyed when the Euros came over and tried their hand at SX. Everts raced a few SXs in 91 maybe 92.
Bolley rode a very few US SX in the big boys category.
In 1995 with the black Chesterfield Yamaha, and in 1998 with the Honda. But no good result on those races...
Everts rode US SX in 1992.
The 80's 90's was something else for motorsport, especially in France. Enduro motocross supercross, damn we had some awsome rider, track, championship... I miss those year man, I miss them so much.
I had it in my head he never rode for KTM, and just could not remember him on a Japanese 250.
I thought he broke a wrist one or maybe twice, but to be honest, as good as he was, there we so many good French riders back then, and when it was 'his time', Tortelli burst onto the scene, and changed it all.
Was lucky enough to get to a few 125GP's , and see these boys, and the 250's, did the 250GP at Kester, and the 125 GP at Holzgerlingen in 95 saw pretty much every top guy there was over 2 weekends, the 500 class was already on the wane.
Dont forget Dakar, and Supermoto too.
The Guidon D'Or at Circuit Carole was awesome, i was there in 1990 i think, Lawson, Peterhansel and Rainey on Chesterfield YZ500's , and Gardner and Bayle on Cr500's . Epic stuff... have some pics somewhere.
Overview of his career results (in French): https://memotocross.fr/downloads/fpm-gp-vialle-f.pdf
In the main MXGP motocross series he mostly raced the 125 class. Finished 3rd in the series in 1996, 4th in 1997 standings. Managed to win 3 overalls in the 1997 125 GP series. 8 moto wins in his career.
French national 125 motocross champion in 1997. French 250 supercross champion in 1995, French 125 supercross champion in 1993.
93 French sx champion, that means he beat Pichon - he was on a cr125 . And raced sx here & won I think in 93. I hv the 97 125 season on Duke video too. The French Nationals 125,250,450 get big crowds at the races . I watched a few they can ride a hard pack burnt out track Real fast. This guys vids r good the riders hv a lot of fun & laughs.
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No, Pichon won the 250 SX championship that year.
Oh ok. I think Pichon won a race on a cr125 in 93 here in America. Either way watched a few of the French Nationals from 23 a few months ago. The guys hv a lot of fun & there fast with Hige turnouts on the gate. Some rounds with better weather hv big crowds.
Yes he did. Had a second in Seattle and won San Diego if i remember right, but raced 250 in France. We trained together a lot at the time on his SX track in France. BTW, Nationals in France is a B serie, 24MX Tour is the real deal. Much better tracks and riders.
Oh that’s a b series . 1 of the races a 125 rider had a envelope of cash, they get cool trophies too. That gbmx guys funny a lot laughs & some pranks like a rider sneaked up & pulled a riders sweats down . The crowd of girls where laughing . Then that rider got him back. I used to do that , yell hey check me out. Then pull your friends swimsuit down . Haha . Then I get it back & it goes around. A pal on his 1st date his chic is like , wow your friends r a bunch of idiots. I just saw everyone’s weiners , I,m gonna hv nightmares about this. Haha
Raced as an amateur (schoolboy) in the UK during 1989 on a Mugen CR125, winning the expert class at Hatherton Hall* against some decent competition.
*I might have the venue wrong, it's been a long time.
Was that a support race for the 125GP?
I was there for that , and knew i had seen him ride there, but i thought it was a GP, but i knew i had seen him ride as a schoolboy too.
Bloody great track that was.
If you find those photos, could you post them? I love the Guidon D'Or
thanks
Ber a few days before i get chance to look, but yes i will .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxviNBHXdsQ
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