Moto3 rider handed four-race disqualification over technical breach

Adrian Fernandez, brother to MotoGP winner Raul Fernandez, has been disqualified from the results of four Moto3 races from the 2026 season due to a technical infringement.

Following the French Grand Prix, Honda had made a standard procedural request to unseal the first group of engines used in 2026 by all of its riders due to the units reaching the end of their life.

However, the wire seals on engine No.810, belonging to Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez, were not consistent with the standard wiring procedure, according to an FIM stewards’ statement.

Adrian Fernandez,2026, Moto3, pole position, French GP

© Gold & Goose

Technical direction carried out a further inspection and found “signs of tampering” to the engine’s sealing stickers.

According to the stewards, “this contravenes the Article 2.6.3.3 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, Moto3 class Engine Durability and Article 3.3.2.2 (any corrupt or fraudulent act, or any action prejudicial to the interests of the meetings or of the sport, carried out by a person or a group of persons occurring during an event).”

Following a hearing at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the stewards disqualified Fernandez from the Thailand, Brazilian, US and Spanish Grands Prix.

He finished sixth, eighth, fifth and second in those races and was third in the standings ahead of this weekend’s round at Balaton Park.

The disqualification from the first four races will now drop him to 11th in the standings on 41 points.

It has not been confirmed what, if anything, was done to the engine following Leopard’s “unauthorised interference”.

A full explanation of the stewards’ decision states: “The Technical Director determined, based on physical inspection, manufacturer evidence and examination of the engine seals, that the integrity of the approved sealing system had been compromised and that the engine had been opened without authorisation.

“Pursuant to Art.2.6.3.3.13(c), 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.

“In the case of engine A810, the engine had already completed one service life and had been removed from the rider's allocation under the normal end-of-life procedure.

“However, the subsequent finding that the security seals had been tampered with and that the engine had been opened without authorisation requires that engine to be treated as a rebuilt engine and therefore as a further engine within the rider allocation.

“Accordingly, engine A810 counts as one engine used during its original service life and one additional engine by virtue of the deemed rebuilding under Art. 2.6.3.3.13(c).

“Consequently, engine A810 has been used as an allocated engine and, following the finding that the approved security sealing system was compromised, is deemed under Art. 2.6.3.3.13(c) to be a rebuilt engine and therefore treated as a new engine in the rider allocation. The rider's engine allocation has been adjusted accordingly.

Adrian Fernandez, Leopard Racing, 2025 Malaysian Moto3

© Gold and Goose

“The Technical Director’s decision was based solely upon the established fact that the integrity of the approved sealing system was compromised and that the engines were opened without authorisation.

“The FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel agree with the application of the Technical Regulations as

determined by the Technical Director and the resulting allocation consequences prescribed by Art.2.6.3.3.13(c).

“Article 2.4.5.3 (3) Presentation of a machine (at Technical Control) will be deemed as an implicit statement of conformity with the technical regulations. Responsibility for the preparation of the machine to comply with all technical and safety regulations rests with the team.

“The FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel considers that the unauthorised interference with the approved technical sealing system constitutes an action prejudicial to the interests of the meetings or of the sport within the meaning of Article 3.3.2.2.”