Ilmor to disband race team

Many of the team's members will be released from their contracts at the end of May, although riders Jeremy McWilliams and Andrew Pitt will remain contracted to the team.

Team boss Mario Illien said: "It is senseless to employ an entire race team when our track activity has ceased albeit on a temporary basis."

Illien added that the decision to cut the team down was not an indication that he was any less committed to getting back onto the MotoGP grid this year.

"I remain upbeat and I still strongly believe that we will find a financial partner for the team," he said. "In the mean time we have to restructure and put in place a smaller team dedicated to engine development.

"Both Andrew and Jeremy have done a fantastic job for Ilmor GP under difficult circumstances and I want to thank them for their ongoing patience and understanding.

"If all goes to plan and we manage to secure the funding to get back out for the remainder of the 2007 season then of course I would love to have both riders back on board."

Illien suspended his team's race activities after the first race of the 2007 season in Qatar, and recently he has allowed Pitt to stand in for the injured Sebastien Charpentier in the World Supersport championship.