The crash caused the race to be immediately stopped, delaying the rest of the day’s schedule and resulting in that afternoon’s opening World Superbike race of the weekend being cut from 20 to 14 laps.
MTM Kawasaki rider Steeman was taken to the medical centre before being transferred by helicopter to hospital in the nearby city of Faro, where he would sadly pass away several days later.
A statement released by Steeman’s family said: “Something you have always been afraid of as a parent of a motorcycle racer has now happened. Our Victor could not win this last race.
“Despite the unbearable loss and grief, we are extremely proud to share with you that our hero, through his passing, was able to save five other people by donating his organs.
“We would like to thank everyone for the way you have lived with us over the past few days. We will miss our Victor enormously.” Steeman first rode in World Supersport 300 full-time in 2019 after making his debut in 2018 as a replacement rider, scoring two pole positions en route to fifth in the standings.
After a year out of the series, he returned in 2021, taking his first win at Most and finishing 10th in the championship.
Switching from KTM machinery to Kawasaki for 2022, he emerged as a championship threat with wins at Assen, Most, Magny-Cours and Barcelona, enough to make him a posthumous runner-up finisher in the championship behind Alvaro Diaz.
Steeman’s death is the second to have occurred in World Supersport 300 in just over a year, following Dean Berta Vinales’ passing after a crash in 2021 at Jerez.
Following a serious incident in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship’s Race 1 during the Pirelli Portuguese Round at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, it is with great sadness that we report the passing of rider Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki).
Steeman was involved in a multi-rider incident at Turn 14, with the race immediately red flagged. Medical personnel and vehicles arrived at the site immediately and the rider was attended to trackside and at the circuit medical centre before being transferred by helicopter to Faro Hospital.
Despite the best efforts of the circuit’s medical staff, marshals and hospital staff, Steeman has sadly succumbed to his injuries.
A statement from the family read: “Something you have always been afraid of as a parent of a motorcycle racer has now happened. Our Victor could not win this last race. Despite the unbearable loss and grief, we are extremely proud to share with you that our hero, through his passing, was able to save 5 other people by donating his organs. We would like to thank everyone for the way you have lived with us over the past few days. We will miss our Victor enormously.”
Steeman was enjoying a superb 2022 FIM Supersport 300 Championship campaign and came into the Pirelli Portuguese Round with a mathematical chance of clinching the World Championship. With four wins, five podiums and three pole positions to his name this season, he took 12 points-scoring finishes out of 14 races. He also signed his name in the history books with pole position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, becoming the rider with the most pole positions in the World Supersport 300 class.
The FIM family, Dorna Group and the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve pass on our deepest condolences to Steeman’s family, friends, team and loved ones.
Information reads: “We’re deeply saddened to report the loss of WorldSSP300 rider Victor Steeman
“The WorldSBK family would like to send all our love to his family, team and loved ones. A great personality, a fierce racer and a legacy left embedded in our paddock forever
Ride in Peace, Victor.”
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