Since the Asia Talent Cup began in 2014, more and more riders have been moving up each rung of the Road to MotoGP ladder, getting closer and closer to where they one day want to be racing: the premier class.

At the first round of 2018 in Qatar, the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup shared the bill with MotoGP – and that didn’t go unnoticed. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who began his career in a similar cup in his native Spain, and Australian Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) both took a keen interest in the youngsters racing in the Cup – with Pedrosa meeting and greeting some of the frontrunners, and Miller lending his support to compatriot Bill van Eerde.

Van Eerde, who began his weekend with a big crash on Friday, staged an impressive comeback to get a solid result on Saturday as Haruki Noguchi and Mario Aji dueled for the win. But on Sunday, the young Australian then took his nation’s first ever win in the Asia Talent Cup, in stunning style. And who was there in parc ferme? Jack Miller, congratulating his compatriot.

By Motogp