Source: Supplied.

Youthful Australian Billy Van Eerde has been invited to contest the 2018 Red Bull Rookies Cup, being one of the 10 riders selected out of 109 entrants at last week’s selection event, which saw fellow Australian’s Ned Faulkhead and Joel Kelso try out for the prestigious program.

A complete mix of conditions over three intensely competitive days in Almeria produced 10 young riders who are invited to join the Red Bull program, which has produced a number of world champions, next year.

From 109 riders invited for the opening two days, 49 made it to the final day and Thursday dawned cold and soaking wet. After the very testing wet morning sessions the circuit dried for the afternoon with another chance for the young riders to show their abilities.

Van Eerde contested the Supersport 300 category of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) this year, wrapping up the title in the process aboard his KTM RC 390.

Riders invited to join the 2018 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup:
Pasquale Alfano (Italy)
Barry Baltus (Belgium)
Max Cook (Great Britain)
Jason Philippe Dupasquier (Switzerland)
Nicolas Hernandez (Colombia)
Adrian Huertas Del Olmo (Spain)
Aidan Liebenberg (South Africa)
Matteo Patacca (Italy)
Carlos Tatay (Spain)
Billy Van Eerde (Australia)