The 2026 Moto3 season has taken an unexpected turn for Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez. The #31 rider has been disqualified from the first six races of the season after two of his engines were found to have been opened without authorization. This technical infringement has led to a significant drop in the standings, leaving Fernandez with only 13 points from the Italian GP at Mugello.
The FIM MotoGP Stewards, after thorough investigations, found that the security seals on Fernandez’s engines were not consistent with standard procedures. This discovery led to a series of penalties that have impacted the rider’s season significantly.
The Technical Infringements
The first engine in question, used in the Thai, Brazilian, US, and Spanish Grands Prix, was found to have seals that were not consistent with the standard wiring procedure. Further checks confirmed that the engine had been opened without authorization. According to Article 2.6.3.3.13(c) of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, “an engine with damaged, tampered with or missing security seals is deemed to have been rebuilt and must be treated as a new engine in the rider allocation.”
The second engine, used in the French and Catalan GPs, showed evidence of tampering with both the seal wires and sealing stickers. This engine was also found to have been opened without authorization, leading to similar penalties. The Technical Director’s findings and the official report from the engine manufacturer confirmed these infringements.
The Penalties and Consequences
The FIM MotoGP Stewards imposed penalties based on the technical infringements. Fernandez was disqualified from the races where these engines were used. This means he loses the points earned in those races, including two podium finishes in Jerez and Le Mans. As a result, Fernandez has dropped from third in the standings to the lower end of the top 20.
The penalties also have further consequences for Fernandez’s season. Due to the seal tampering, both engines will be treated as rebuilt and will count twice towards his engine allocation for the season. Additionally, one of the engines was deemed unsuitable for further use due to safety concerns, reducing the number of engines available to Fernandez.
The Impact on the Season
The disqualifications and penalties have significantly impacted Fernandez’s season. With only 13 points from the Italian GP at Mugello, Fernandez’s chances of competing for the top positions have diminished. The loss of points from the first six races has pushed him down the standings, making it an uphill battle for the rest of the season.
Despite the setbacks, Fernandez and Leopard Racing will need to focus on the remaining races and work towards regaining their position in the standings. The technical infringements serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the regulations in motorsport.
