Moto2 team critical of rival penalty after 'unacceptable line was crossed' in COTA crash

The MSi Racing Team has released a statement describing the penalty handed to Alberto Fernandez following the opening-lap pile-up at COTA as insufficient.

MSi rider Angel Piqueras suffered the most serious injuries in the seven-rider incident, after Fernandez lost control under braking for Turn 11.

Piqueras required surgery for a fractured femur and ankle, and also sustained rib fractures, a pulmonary contusion and a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The FIM MotoGP Stewards held a hearing with Fernandez on Thursday at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha rider was found guilty of “riding in an irresponsible manner causing a crash” and handed a pit lane start.

The penalty statement outlined the reasoning as follows:

Penalty Explanation
"Following the Penalty Protocols issued to teams, this action was deemed to be an incident of Type M2-CC5: START OF THE RACE / OPENING LAP. Actions that create a dangerous situation for multiple riders, not in control and/or causing a crash. As a first offence for the season, the appropriate penalty in this case is a Pit Lane Start."

Angel Piqueras, Moto2 Race, Grand Prix of the Americas, 29 March 2026

© Gold and Goose

MSi: Alberto Ferrández 'clearly reckless'

MSi responded with a strongly worded statement, translated below, calling for tougher sanctions:

“The MSi Racing Team would like to express our dissatisfaction with the sanction imposed following what happened at the Austin GP.

“The manoeuvre carried out by Alberto Ferrández was clearly reckless and caused a very serious accident that left our rider, Ángel Piqueras, with multiple injuries, which have already been reported.

“We understand that crashes and incidents are part of this sport, but we believe that in this case, an unacceptable line was crossed in terms of risk and safety.

“The penalty applied seems insufficient to us in relation to the dangerousness of the action.

“We firmly believe that decisions of this kind should not set a precedent or give rise to interpretations that could diminish the seriousness of behaviours that put riders’ integrity at risk.

“Therefore, we call for greater firmness in handling these types of situations, in defence of safety, respect on track, and the responsibility that competition demands."

Filip Salac, David Alonso, Collin Veijer, Daniel Munoz and Sergio Garcia were also caught up in the crash.

Miraculously, most walked away with only Ferrandez, Piqueras and Garcia unable to make the subsequent restart.

There is currently no confirmed timeline for Piqueras’ return.