Moto3, Migno: “The minor categories? Even a death isn’t enough to change things”

Victor Steeman’s death following an incident in Supersport 300 in Portugal has reignited the debate about the minor categories in both the world championship and World Superbike as well as the Italian CIV. Maverick Viñales has spoken out against Supersport 300 (despite his father having a team), calling it “a pointless category, the bikes are the problem”, while Andrea Migno has talked about the minor categories in a long two-part post on his Instagram profile.

This is not the first time the Snipers rider has reflected on what’s happening in the world championship and it’s not the first time he’s done so on social media channels (his post on Austin 2021 and the accident caused by Oncu a case in point).

 What should happen to change things?

Migno’s focus of attention are the minor categories, which he believes have become unhealthy in recent years. This is what he writes in the first part of his post: “It seems clear to me that something’s wrong, I’m referring to the minor categories, those with young competitors, adolescents. And I underline that I’m referring to classes like Moto3, PreMoto3 or SuperSport300, which have become unhealthy in recent years. Not even a death is enough to get things changed. What can we do? Who can we speak to? What should happen in order for things to change? People have been talking about it for years and realise what’s happening, but things don’t change, in fact they get worse! So wrong, fatal! Racing and the setup of the minor categories has to change. As soon as possible. Up until a few years ago, when things were better, there used to be duels, last lap battles between two or three riders, five or six at most in a 'group race'. And riders would do their best to set a fastest qualifying time alone, without slipstreams. A dream for many today, for nearly everyone. And this was the case at most races on the calendar.”

In the second part, Migno proposes rebuilding the minor categories: “No, it’s not like that anymore. The situation has been turned on its head. Today, in most races, a group of 20 or more riders constantly risk their lives because they find themselves forced to chase and ram each other to achieve the final result. When I hear people saying things like, “The Moto3 races are the best to watch as anything and everything goes on”, I always feel surprised, because it really is like this and you can only understand so much of what’s going on on track when you watch on TV. There’s an escalation of the risks that every rider takes through every corner, a war between youngsters. Motorsport is dangerous, and if you add this extra dose of risk, things can only get worse. The why isn’t really important, but I believe something has to change.”

More decisive riders

"As well as the economic aspects, which we’re not going into here but that clearly exist, it’s time we give the young riders the chance to make the difference in the saddle, as in Moto2 or MotoGP, SuperSport600 or Superbike. Where the rider who can be quicker and more efficient over one or more laps can make the difference on track! This no longer happens in the minor classes and rarely do we see riders making the difference on track. While the riders’ talents and attributes can vary massively, the bikes are technically too easy for everyone to take to the limit. The minor categories should be rebuilt!! These are my thoughts after another life has been lost on track, snatched from this wonderful world of passion and extraordinary people. I hope to witness better motorcycle racing. Many steps have been taken over the years and especially of late, but we must do more now, something substantial. We can’t keep pretending nothing’s going on.”

Traslated by Heather Watson

SSP300, OFFICIAL: VICTOR STEEMAN PASSES AWAY