Image: Supplied.

A pair of inspiring results in the German round of the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will serve as a boost of confidence for Australia’s Billy Van Eerde, recording a pair of sixth-place finishes at Sachsenring.

After winning the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Championship in his first attempt last year, 17-year-old Van Eerde has been refining his craft across the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Moto3 Junior World Championship.

Sachsenring saw Ven Eerde challenge amongst the leading group to claim sixth in race one: “I probably relaxed a bit too much and then I had just started to push again when the red flag came out and ended it, but at least we know that the bike is working well and we can try and do it again tomorrow.”

Sunday was the Queenslander’s best performance yet, crossing the line in a superb third position until he was penalised three positions for gaining ‘an advantage by going off track as they charged down the waterfall’.

“I think I deserved third,” he commented post-race after learning of his penalty. “I had no idea that the kerb was ending as we came down the waterfall – I didn’t see it. I was just battling the other guys… That’s tough.”

As a result of his German results, Van Eerde has climbed to 12th in the Rookies Cup standings. He will be back on the bike this weekend to gain more experience at MotorLand Aragon in round six of the Spanish-based Moto3 Junior series, in which he rides for the Dorna-backed Junior Talent Team aboard Honda machinery.