Image: Supplied.

Australian teenager Billy van Eerde has clinched the 2018 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup title after a dramatic final round showdown at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

Van Eerde crashed in race one during the Shell Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix yesterday, however remounted for P11 and entered Sunday’s race with a four-point advantage.

A thrilling 11-lap finale saw Van Eerde battling for position within the lead group, slicing his way to second across the line but being elevated to first position – and the championship victory as a result – soon afterwards when title rival Haruki Noguchi was penalised.

A determined Noguchi looked set to be crowned when he initially crossed the line first, but an incident across the line involving home hero Danial Sharil saw the Japanese talent docked with a 27-second time penalty. That dropped him outside of the top 10 and van Eerde into P1, awarding him a spectacular cup win as a rookie.

“I just want to thank the Asia Talent Cup staff, my mum and dad, all my sponsors – it wouldn’t have been possible without them,” 16-year-old van Eerde said, adding to his Australian Supersport (Over) 300 Championship captured last season. “It was a super-hot race! I’m just… I don’t really know what to say!”

Van Eerde – who is mentored by MotoGP star and countryman Jack Miller – wasn’t the only Australian in the field at Sepang, as emerging youngster Senna Agius managed a 14th-place result this afternoon after scoring 10th the day prior.