Mourning in motorcycling: Victor Steeman dies at 22

Victor Steeman, a 22-year-old Dutch rider, died last night at the hospital in Faro, in the Portuguese Algarve, after suffering a serious accident during the last round of the World Superbikes in the SSP300 category.

Despite the efforts of the doctors, who treated the young man on the asphalt after suffering a multiple accident at curve 14 of the circuit, on October 8, the serious injuries ended up taking his life three days later, during the night of the October 11th.

The rider lost control of his Kawasaki Ninja 400 on the third lap of the first test of the weekend.

Another competitor who was coming from behind him could not avoid him and hit him squarely against his body, causing polytrauma and head injuries.

The rapid transfer to the medical center with a medicalized helicopter and the attention of the professionals could not avoid the tragedy.

“Something has happened that we have always been afraid of as parents of a motorcycle racer.

Our Victor couldn't win his last race.

Despite the excruciating loss and pain, we are proud to share that our hero, in his death, was able to save five other people as an organ donor.

We want to thank everyone who has joined us these past few days.

We are going to miss Victor very much," the family explained in a statement.

Steeman, a very polite boy with a sense of humor, leaves a hole in the

after completing his best season in the competition riding for MTM Kawasaki.

He arrived at the Portuguese round with mathematical options for the title, which was finally won by the Valencian Álvaro Díaz, 19 years old in a not very festive atmosphere with his partner already in the hospital.

With four wins, five podiums and three first places on the grid this season, the Dutchman left his name inscribed in history with his

at the Catalunya GP.

At the Circuit de Barcelona he became the driver with the most

of the history of a contest with five Spanish champions in the last six years –Marc García in 2017, Ana Carrasco in 2018, Manu Gonzalez in 2019, Adrián Huertas in 2021 and Díaz in 2022–.

The loss of the 22-year-old talent adds to that of Chrissy Rouse, a 26-year-old British rider in the English Superbike championship, on October 6, who was also run over by another competitor with devastating consequences after several days of fighting in the hospital.

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