All eyes are suddenly on what is happening at Motorland Aragon, Spain, after an unbelievable and quite frankly ridiculous incident took place during qualifying for the World Moto3 Championship.
The incident discussed involved Tech3 Racing rider Adrian Fernandez and two mechanics from his former side, Max Racing Team (owned by official MotoGP legend Max Biaggi).
As Tech3 attempted to release Fernandez onto the circuit behind Ayumu Sasaki (rides for Max Racing Team), two mechanics from the opposing team appeared to suddenly move over and grab Fernandez’s brakes, stalling his bike in the process.
The idiotic duo can be seen keeping a firm eye on their former rider, before making their erratic and quite frankly, unbelievably dangerous move to grab the Spaniard’s brake lever.
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The pair of mechanics were sensationally caught on a number of cameras, with the footage having since been released on MotoGP’s official social media accounts.
Due to Fernandez’s bike stalling, the team were unable to get their rider back out on track with enough time for a final flying lap, resulting in a P15 start for the young rider.
Biaggi reportedly made sure to immediately apologise to Tech3 in person, where everyone was in disbelief as to what had happened; nothing like it has ever been seen in the pits before.
Biaggi released a tweet of his own, explaining that the two mechanics will be “appropriately punished”, with the former four-time 250cc World Champion and two-time World Superbike Champion absolutely fuming with what two of his team have done.
“Unacceptable behaviour!” said Biaggi on Twitter.
“We publicly apologise to the Tech3 Racing Team and Adrian Fernandez. An unsolicited, dangerous action that cannot be justified in any way by our code of ethics! Those responsible will be appropriately punished.”
Biaggi spoke to The Race following the incident, where his anger over what had happened was evident.
The Italian insists “I will make some action”.
âItâs clear for me!â Biaggi fumed to The Race.
âI was there. I was speaking with [pitlane reporter Antonio] Boselli from Sky. I didnât notice because it was quick â I noticed when someone sent me the tweet. I saw. I want to speak with the mechanics what happened.
âThey were speaking very [quiet mumbles]⊠why? This is unbelievable. I went to Tech3 and I asked what happened. They explained to me. I said sorry, I said this is unacceptable, and I will make some action. So, from my point of view, itâs unacceptable. Any aspect, any class, anything.
âAnd⊠[even] if Dorna or IRTA will, I donât know, punish somehow or say this is something⊠I will do by my own, on the team. There will be a punishment for the behaviour. It doesnât mean anything if they did on purpose or not. It was clear to me. And unacceptable.â
The FIM (motorsport’s two-wheeled governing body) have since released a statement entailing what punishment the two mechanics will face.
The FIM stewards announced in a statement that the two fools will be fined âŹ2000 and banned from the Australian and Malaysian Grand Prix’s; however, they will be allowed to attend the next two races following “immigration and travel restrictions”.
The FIM’s statement read: “Two members of the team were found to be interfering and making contact with the bike and rider of another team in an aggressive and dangerous manner as that rider was leaving the pit box in Moto3 Q2.
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“Both team members have been fined âŹ2000, and they have each been disqualified from taking part in the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix AND the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia.
“It would not be possible to replace the team members in question for the next two races due to immigration and travel restrictions for upcoming rounds, which could potentially cause a safety concern for their rider.
“This two-race ban has therefore been deferred to apply to the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.”