The soft, demanding but popular Neuquen racetrack in Patagonia hosted the first MXGP Grand Prix since 2019 for round three of the current series and Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle grasped 1st position overall with his factory KTM 250 SX-F.
- Vialle goes 2-1 for his first win and second podium finish of the season
- The 21-year-old adds another two holeshots to his 2022 collection
- Vialle sits 2nd in the early world championship standings 26 points from the leader
Not counting the 2021 Grand Prix of Russia, MXGP headed outside of Europe for the first time since the final date of 2019 in China and to rediscover the beauty – and technical challenges – of the Neuquen circuit for the Patagonia-Argentina round. The FIM series last visited this epic zone of the country in ’19 and a decent attendance at the facility close to the border with Chile welcomed back the best riders in MXGP and MX2.
Neuquen offered its usual tough physical and technical test, thanks to the shifting volcanic earth that create a fast but rough and rippled racing surface. Vialle, using the power of his new KTM 250 SX-F, rode to 2nd position in Saturday’s Qualification Heat and was set for a strong outing on Sunday. #28 blasted to the holeshot in the first moto and couldn’t respond to the speed set by title rival Jago Geerts. He finished 2nd but set his sights on the second moto. Another holeshot provided an early lead but the race was red-flagged after one-lap. On the restart Vialle pushed his way from 3rd to 1st, leaving Geerts in his wake to earn the overall triumph.
KTM was still missing factory representation in the MXGP category due to Jeffrey Herlings’ continued recovery from a broken heel but DIGA Procross KTM’s Thomas Kjer Olsen was able to steer his KTM 450 SX-F to 15th overall. The Dane was 5th in the first race but didn’t finish the second.
MXGP makes the long trip back to Europe for the Grand Prix of Portugal at Agueda on April 3rd.
Tom Vialle, 2nd and 1st for 1st overall in MX2: “A nice weekend and I really wanted to win that second moto but it was very fast and tough out there. I wanted to make the passes quickly and it worked out I had to stay focussed. I’m getting back to speed and physically I’m strong after a difficult winter of preparation. The season is getting going for me now. We have another 17 GPs ahead. I want to thank the whole team for the job at this GP. We have an amazing race bike.”
Results MX2 Argentina 2022
1. Tom Vialle (FRA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 2-1
2. Jago Geerts (BEL), Yamaha, 1-2
3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN) Kawasaki, 4-3
4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA), GASGAS, 3-4
5. Conrad Mewse (GBR), KTM, 6-9
Standings MX2 2022 after 3 of 20 rounds
1. Jago Geerts 137 points
2. Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 111
2. Simon Laengenfelder 110
3. Mikkel Haarup 92
5. Andrea Adamo 85
Results MXGP Argentina 2022
1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 2-1
3. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 1-2
3. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 4-4
4. Pauls Jonass (NED), Husqvarna, 6-5
5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Yamaha, 8-6
15. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN), KTM 5-DNF
Standings MXGP 2022 after 3 of 20 rounds
1. Tim Gajser 141 points
2. Maxime Renaux 124
3. Jorge Prado 118
4. Jeremy Seewer 94
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek 76
7. Thomas Kjer Olsen 73
Posted on March 21, 2022 by Michael Le Pard
