Ogden targeting strength and ‘training to win’ in Moto3

Scott Ogden proved he was one to watch during his rookie season in Moto3 with a first row start and seven points scoring finishes across 2022.

Busy training and preparing ahead of his second season in Moto3 with the VisionTrack Racing squad, bikesportnews.com caught up with him after three days on track amid imposing company at Portimao.

“It’s been a good winter so far,” the 19-year-old said on Monday afternoon from the Portuguese track. “About a month back riding now, so I’m fairly happy. It’s not been the Moto3 prep I wanted, but we’ve been working on bigger bikes just to try and get a bit of strength because I lacked a little bit last year, so yeah, it’s been good. We’re going to some big tracks - at Portimao the last three days and then Jerez in about two weeks - so I’m getting the two tracks where we test at for Moto3 and then where we race at in the season. It’s nice, I feel good. I feel in a good place.

“We had some good guys here the last few days, [Pecco] Bagnaia, [Johann] Zarco, all the VR46 guys, so it was quite good to see where I stood. There’s definitely work to do, but we’re not far away.

“The big thing was just trying to get a bit more strength,” he continued, on how he’s been tweaking his off-season prep after a year of experience in the Grand Prix paddock. “When you’ve got eight races in Junior World Championship, it’s a little bit easier to continue the training throughout the year, whereas last year I sort of lacked that gym training just because it was so many races and when I came home, I didn’t want to train so much. It’s just about trying to build a good level of strength and fitness so I can try and maintain it throughout the year without too much difficulty.”

Speaking of the experience gained