VisionTrack Racing aims to maintain momentum for its sophomore season in Moto3 as Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley return for 2023.
Launched by Michael Laverty and overseen by team manager Taylor Mackenzie, the rookie outfit has enjoyed a steady season in 2022. With three top 12 results - including at the home GP at Silverstone - Ogden shone in the opening half of the year, scoring points in seven of the 19 races completed so far to bring his tally to 21. While a front row start in Motegi rejuvenated a difficult month of flyaway races.
16-year-old Whatley has also shown encouraging improvements across his first year in world championship competition. Repeatedly challenging on the edge of the top-20, his best results came at Indonesia and Assen, with Portugal showcasing his strongest qualifying performance as he joined the Q2 fight for the first time.
With the pair set to conclude the year at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, a track they know well, the team is confident of a return to form before the 2023 preparations begin.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend as I know this circuit quite well and can’t wait to see how I get on with the Honda round here!” Whatley told bikesportnews.com of the impending final weekend.
“I’m feel very happy that Mav and the team have trusted me with another opportunity for next year to show what I’m capable of and I’m looking forward to a hard winter to prepare for 2023!”
“It’s bizarre that we’re at the final race already,” Mackenzie said from Valencia. “It’s been such a whirlwind year, I can’t believe how fast this season’s gone!
“It’s been a huge learning experience for myself as well as the team but I think we’ve exceeded our own expectations. We’ve had a front row this season, we’ve finished top Honda in some races and we’re excited for one last dance this year.
“We are obviously very happy to keep both boys on for a second year,” he confirmed. “We felt that it was really important to give British riders two years in the paddock to really find their feet.
“The first year was always going to be a learning year, learning the circuits, even just the different countries they go to and what it’s like to be in the World Championship. So it’s been a huge undertaking for them and it’s nice that next year they’ll know what to expect and they’ve got a year to prove themselves in the championship.
“We’re very excited to have them all on again for next year, they’ve both shown potential this year and we’re looking forward to improving on it all for 2023.”
