Scott Ogden graduates from Repsol CEV to the Moto3 World Championship for 2022 as part of Michael Laverty’s new VisionTrack Honda team.
Ogden’s final year in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship saw him secure the first victory for a British rider in a decade, alongside a further podium and pole position at Valencia’s final round. With the experience gained, the 18-year-old makes the jump to the MotoGP paddock confident of his abilities and eager for the future challenge.
“I’m excited about the opportunity I’ve got for 2022,” Ogden confirmed. “It’s the next stepping stone towards the main goal of MotoGP. The intensity in Moto3 is very high - you’re entering the lion’s den! - but the junior championship has taught me some things. “The realisation you don’t just have to do the fastest lap time all the time!” he admitted. “All I wanted to do last year was to be as fast as possible every lap – if you can do the lap alone in practice or qualifying then it’s much easier in a race to do the lap and stick with the bunch.
“The last half of season I’ve been really happy with my results. Since the podium at Barcelona things started to click a lot more. Then the win at Jerez and I felt really good again at Valencia. Earlier in the year I qualified 21st and finished 15th and 10th. This time around it was pole and a fourth and a fifth - I went faster with turn one still wet than I did earlier in the year!
“I’m happy with a top six in the standings and the pole at Valenica but Jerez was the big highlight – there’s nothing like winning. “Off the track I’ve learnt a lot about the bike, the data and how to analyse it, working with a crew chief and becoming more of an all-round professional,” Ogden continued. “I can articulate better and also react better to changes on the bike – what the team are doing to the set-up and giving them feedback.
“I expect some criticism, but I feel I can progress more as a rider in that championship,” he continued, on the new challenge awaiting him in Moto3. “There are all the tactics to consider but this is all part of racing motorbikes. Obviously I want to do a good job off the track with media and partners and the team, but I don’t want to get involved in politics. “Ideally I’d like to have 2 years in each class (Moto3 then Moto2) but there’s not a limit and I’m prepared for the fact it might take more.”
World championship racing has been the goal for Ogden from an early age, with the Lincolnshire rider moving to Spain to compete rather than tackle the traditionally difficult route through BSB.
“It’s got to be your life. Everything you do you have to think: ‘Is this going to make me better on that bike?’
“The riders in Spain dedicate their life to it. They live it, sleep it, breathe it. You have to put your life and soul into it and give it your best shot. It’s been tough at times with me and my father not really seeing my mum but after the NEC I’ll spend time with them at home. We’ll get to eat some turkey together at Christmas.”
With the VisionTrack Honda project a late decision by Laverty in the second half of 2021 - in part due to the dissolution of the Petronas SRT teams - testing for the new outfit won’t commence until the new year.
“It all starts when we roll out of the pit box in February with all the other Moto3 teams – that is when it will probably really hit me,” the 18-year-old confirmed.
“I think there are 18 riders I’ve raced against before on the 2022 Moto3 grid – I’m part of a big cohort of rookies moving up to it so it makes it more familiar, but of course there are still names I’ve never raced such as Foggia, Garcia, Sasaki etc.
“I’ve never been to half the countries we go to. They’re all exciting but I suppose Silverstone will be special – I enjoy the circuit configuration there and it’s where I won the British Talent Cup title. Representing Great Britain in front of your home crowd at the British GP will be pretty cool.”
Ogden will be at Motorcycle Live on Sunday 5th December, alongside Michael Laverty and new teammate Josh Whatley.
