Moto3: Scott Ogden: 'You have to put your life and soul into it'
Scott Ogden joins the Moto3 World Championship with Michael Laverty's new VisionTrack Honda team next season having finished sixth overall, with one victory, in the hotly contested CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship.
The step to grand prix is naturally a big one, but Ogden having already raced against many of the riders on next year's grid shows the level of his preparation.
“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," Ogden said.
“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.”
After a best finish of eight place in the 2020 CEV season, the 18-year-old's debut podium in Catalunya (round 3) this year was something of a turning point.
“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 [finale]," Ogden explained.
"Earlier in the year I qualified 21st and finished 15th and 10th. This time around it was pole and a 4th and a 5th - I went faster with Turn 1 still wet than I did earlier in the year!
“I’m happy with a top six in the standings and the pole at Valencia, but Jerez was the big highlight – there’s nothing like winning.”
Ogden credits part of this year's success to, “The realisation you don’t just have to do the fastest lap time all the time!
"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 quali then it’s much easier in a race to do the lap and stick with the bunch.
“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.
"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.”
Ogden's time in Spain has also taught him the level of dedication needed to reach the top.
“It’s got to be your life. Everything you do, you have to think: is this going to make me better on that bike?" he said.
“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 [show] I’ll spend time with them at home.
"We’ll get to eat some turkey together at Christmas.”
After which all his attention will turn to preparing for his first Grand Prix test, when he will be making the transition from an Aspar-run GASGAS (KTM) to VisionTrack's 2022 Honda.
“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," he said.
"I’m excited about the opportunity I’ve got for 2022. 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.
“I expect some criticism, but I feel I can progress more as a rider in that championship. 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 two years in each class (Moto3 then Moto2) but there’s not a limit and I’m prepared for the fact it might take more.”
Countryman and fellow rookie Joshua Whatley will be Ogden's team-mate next season.
