Tom Guyon – A New motivation

The Riley Racing Kawasaki project having been abandoned, Tom Guyon found himself without a ride during the offseason. However, the Poitevin rider did not let this setback discourage him and quickly sought a solution. His new plans are now confirmed. No, Tom Guyon will not compete in the MX2 World Championship in 2025, nor will he ride a KX-F 250.

Thanks to the support of his partners, Triumph France – via Triumph Bordeaux – and the Tech 32 team, Tom Guyon will tackle the French Elite MX1 Championship this year, stepping up to the premier class earlier than expected. He also plans to participate in a few MXGP rounds before switching back to the smaller bore SX Tour. This program was originally planned for 2024, but a severe cervical injury sustained during the Rookie's Cup forced Tom to revise his plans.

“The Riley Racing team simply led me on,” says Tom Guyon. “I didn't get a salary, a bike—nothing at all. It was all empty promises. On top of that, the team owner’s image deteriorated due to his legal issues. I decided to walk away. I couldn't ride without a salary—I have bills to pay, I have a life to live. My parents don't pay for everything. Plus, I didn't want to be associated with that guy and his reputation. And anyway, without bikes, I couldn't train… Kay Karssemakers has a bike, but it's his personal one, not the team's. On my side, I had fulfilled my part of the deal…”

Tom Guyon ultimately chose to leave Riley Racing before the team collapsed completely. Even though the Dutch structure still owes him a significant amount in back pay, he knows that his chances of ever getting paid are slim. Determined to move forward, he immediately began working on a new project for 2025.

“I quickly realized that this team was going nowhere,” admits Tom. “At that point, I had two choices: either wait and see or take matters into my own hands. I had to be proactive and not just hope to pick up the pieces. I want to ride, so I took charge and made sure to find bikes and funding. I made an incalculable number of phone calls. Fortunately, several local companies—unrelated to motocross—supported me financially. Thanks to them, I was able to put together a plan for 2025. You can't expect to secure a budget in mid-December by only targeting motocross sponsors. After discussing it with my mechanic, we decided to go with Triumph. Initially, I wanted to ride Kawasaki, but if I was going to be on my own, I might as well stand out and be a bit of a pioneer.”

Tom will therefore be on the starting grid at the opening round of the Fr ench Elite MX1 Championship in Lacapelle-Marival in mid-February. The MX2 class is now behind him, as he makes his MX1 debut this season. Due to the Riley Racing debacle, he lost his final year of eligibility in the MX2 World Championship and decided to move up to the premier class earlier than planned. However, he will return to the 250 class for the Supercross season.

“Racing a 250 is too expensive, especially when it comes to engine preparation and maintenance. Since I'm 22, it seemed like the right time to move up to the 450 class. I am approaching the end of my MX2 eligibility, but i’m still young for the 450 class, so this choice made sense. The problem is that the 450s were supposed to arrive early January, but there were delays. Triumph offered to lend me a 250 so I could train while waiting for the 450s, so I was able to get some riding in. As for my decision to compete in SX2, I have less experience in Supercross. In Supercross, precision is key—it's a discipline that requires experience. I prefer to race it in the 250 class. I didn't get much seat time in Supercross last year, but I felt good when I did. My goal is to put the Triumph up front, fight for good positions, and most importantly, enjoy myself.”

Jean-Michel and Nicolas Fabre, from the Tech 32 Racing team, have also stepped up to support Tom Guyon in 2025. Although he won't officially be part of the team structure, don't be surprised to see him on track aboard a 450 TF in Tech 32 colors this year.

“I'm just now getting back on the bike. In reality, I haven't ridden since my injury at the Rookie's Cup last August… It's frustrating, but you can't put time on pause. I'm making do with what I have. I was physically ready to go by November 1st, but while everyone else was training, I was stuck waiting for Riley. All I could do was work on my fitness.”

With a year of discovery in the 450 class and ambitions to perform in SX2, Tom Guyon is also aiming to make his debut in the premier class at the Grand Prix level. For now, he is targeting appearances at both French GPs—Saint-Jean-d'Angély and Ernée—and does not rule out competing in a few neighboring GPs depending on how his season unfolds.