Dutch motorcycle pilot Victor Steeman is dead. The 22-year-old crashed badly on Saturday in the Supersport 300 World Championship race in Portimao, Portugal, after colliding with his Kawasaki team-mate José Perez Gonzalez. The Dutchman was taken to hospital where he died on Tuesday, his family said in a statement.
Steeman was traded in the motorcycle scene as a promising young rider. He won five World Championship races and was on pole position six times. At the season finale of the Supersport 300 World Championship, he was given a chance of winning the World Championship title.
“Something that parents of motorcycle racers always fear has now happened. Our Victor couldn’t win that last race,” Steeman’s family wrote in the statement published by Worldsuperbike promoter Dorna on Tuesday night. “We will miss Victor terribly.” Steeman donated his organs, five people could have been saved.
The accident happened on Saturday afternoon: On the third lap, Perez lost control of his machine, which crashed head-on into Steeman, who had no chance to avoid it. The 22-year-old had to be artificially ventilated after the collision and was taken to a hospital in Faro by helicopter. The diagnosis: severe head injuries, multiple life-threatening traumas. Eventually he succumbed to severe head injuries.