Thirty-year-old Frenchman Nigon joins Stéphane Haddadj’sNational Motos Honda team from the rival Honda No Limits outfit following Swiss star Suchet’s retirement. He will partner existing riders Guillaume Raymond, also from France, and Suchet’s younger brother Valentin.
With the countdown to the 2025 EWC season continuing, Nigon took time out of his preparations for glory in the Dunlop-equipped category by answering five key questions.
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Nigon (centre) will join forces with Valentin Suchet (left) and Guillaume Raymond (right) at National Motos HondaHow did the agreement for you to replace Sébastien Suchet come together?
“I have always had good contacts with the team and I tried several times to join them but with the trio of Sébastien and Valentin Suchet and Guillaume Raymond, the team had a solid crew and there was no reason to change. When Sébastien announced that he was retiring, I got back in touch with Stéphane Haddadj, the team manager, to see if this time there was an opportunity. Stéphane called me to Paris to talk with me, get to know me better and see how motivated I was to join the team, knowing that there are very strong values within this team. At the end of the discussion, he offered to sign me when I thought he was going to let me go and call me back a few days later. It took me by surprise but, in the end, I was super-happy.”
What additional pressure does joining the World Cup-winning team from last year bring?
“Joining National Motos Honda is already a great opportunity for me. It is one of the oldest in the championship and one of the most experienced. Yes, it is true that they won the World Cup last year, which demonstrates their level. However, I do not put myself under pressure. I know the Honda well since I already rode with it in my previous team, and I have enough experience in the discipline to take things in the right direction. Besides, Stéphane was very clear about it. He has been watching me for a while, he knows what I am capable of, and he told me that he expects me to do what I know how to do and no more.”
Your experience should help you to integrate better in the team alongside Guillaume Raymond and Valentin Suchet. Are these riders that you know?
"Yes, I know them well. We have already done a few bike rides together and, at race, we often meet, we chat and we like to tease each other. So I have no fears about my integration. It will be up to me to do the job since they have been in place for several seasons. As I said above, National Motos is also a family, a unique state of mind and there is no question of me degrading all that. I understood their approach to racing. Absolute performance is not their priority. Each session is used to help the team progress and no one takes the spotlight. So there is no reason for that to change because I am joining the team.”
What are your expectations going into the new EWC season?
“Let's say that I won all the 24-hour races with my previous teams, but I never managed to put everything together in the same season to win the title. So I hope that with National Motos Honda I will succeed. In any case, I am not focusing on that. I know that I am joining a very good team and that we can play at the front in each race. If it means smiling, I am in the best place.”
Nigon (left) celebrates winning in Superstock in the 2022 24H SPA EWC Motos with Team LH RacingWhen will you start training with your new team-mates?
“We tested already at Alméria Circuit. Even if the weather was not at its best in endurance it is part of the game. Then we will have the Pré-Test for the 24 Heures Motos.”
The 24 Heures Motos forms the opening round of the four-event 2025 EWC season from 17-20 April. Ticket information is available HERE.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
