Pilot dies after colliding with protective wall in motorcycle accident in Interlagos

Motorbike racer João Eloi, aged 57, passed away last Saturday night (30), in São Paulo. The death was reported by Superbike Brasil, considered the main championship of the sport in the country, but which had its approval from the Brazilian Motorcycle Confederation (CBM) withdrawn in March – which does not prevent it from taking place.

According to a statement from Superbike Brasil, Eloi suffered a fall during the race of the ninth stage of the SuperSport 400cc Escola category. The incident report, according to the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP), reported that the pilot also collided with the racetrack’s protective wall in the accident.

The case was registered in the 101st Police District, in Jardim das Imbuias, which is in the south of the city.

“Despite the immediate care provided by the championship’s rescue team, in an ICU ambulance, [Unidade de Terapia Intensiva]followed by rapid referral to the race track’s emergency room, João ended up dying while still in the clinic”, recorded the official note released by the category.

The organization reported having made itself available to assist Eloi’s family and stated, according to the note, that “everyone on the championship team is appalled by the event.”

Despite the tragedy, the event, which took place over the weekend, continued normally this Sunday (1st).

In June, Argentine Lorenzo Somaschini, just nine years old, died after an accident in free practice in the Honda Junior Cup, a Superbike Brazil category for young people aged 8 to 18.

Before the deaths of Eloi and the boy Lorenzo, pilot Matheus Barbosa passed away during the Superbike Brasil race in 2020.

The previous year, two accidents, within a month, killed pilots Maurício Paludete and Danilo Berto and led the São Paulo City Council to suspend, at the time, for 60 days, all motorcycle competitions in Interlagos.