Second Moto3 rider disqualified from six races due to illegal engine tampering
Updated: 13:45, 05 Jun
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Andrew McLarneyMotoGP Reporter
Andrew McLarney is a MotoGP reporter for GPBlog. With four years experience as a professional writer across the sports and video game industries, his experience as a K1 Premier League competitor evolved into a fascination with all forms of combat sport and eventually motorsport — with MotoGP becoming his primary focus. On top of that he is also an avid follower of MXGP and AMA Supercross as well as F1 and GT racing.
Leopard Racing's Adrian Fernandez has been disqualified from the opening six rounds of the Moto3 season after it was revealed that the team had made illegal modifications to the bike's engine.
The FIM have certainly been busy scrutinizing the Moto3 class of late. Earlier this week, Mugello race winner Brian Uriarte had his results from the Catalan Grand Prix wiped, and now Leopard's Adrian Fernandez has fallen under the sword.
The brutal punishment will see Fernandez lose all his points from the Thailand, Brazil, USA, Jerez, France and Catalonia races, taking him from 3rd in the championship standings to 19th. The official statement from MotoGP reads as follows:
Leopard Racing rider Adrian Fernandez disqualified from first six Grands Prix of 2026
According to the Sanctions documents, after the French GP, the engine manufacturer requested – as is standard – for the seals be removed from their riders first group of engines, which had reached the end of their service life. It was observed that the seals on one of Fernandez’ engines were not consistent with the standard wiring procedure.
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Following further checks, and based on the Technical Director’s findings regarding the seals and the official report from the engine manufacturer, it was found that this engine was opened without authorisation.
The technical infringement means the engine must be counted as new in the rider’s allocation, according 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 addition, the FIM MotoGP Stewards have imposed penalties. They found this contravenes 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).
The penalty for this from the Stewards is disqualification from the Thai, Brazilian, US and Spanish Grands Prix – events in which this engine was used.
While the punishment may seem harsh on the young rider after his stellar 2026 start, but engine tampering is a serious offence on behalf of the team. Fernandez will have to rebuild mentally and readjust his targets for the season, starting this weekend in Balaton Park.
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