Clarke dropped by Virgin Yamaha.

The Virgin Mobile Yamaha BSB team has announced an immediate split with rider Kieran Clarke.

"Kieran has struggled to regain his confidence after a disastrous 2005 season and a winter testing crash," read a team statement. "The team has supported Kieran throughout and worked very closely with him to try and regain the pace we know he is capable of.

"This is an amicable decision made for the best of the team and Kieran, as the series runs into the final stages at an incredible pace and at circuits where a rider's confidence needs to be at a very high level, Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha believes this would only be a more difficult time for Kieran.

"This is not an easy decision; we wanted Kieran to regain the old form he has showed in the past and knew it would take a little time," said team manager Rob McElnea. "We hoped it would be pretty much on course before the Championship started in anger, but that has not come. The race weekends are not really ideal to try and regain your confidence. We will try and help Kieran with his plans and hopefully we will get to work together in the future."

Virgin Mobile Yamaha will be in action this weekend at Cadwell Park for the eleventh round of the British Superbike Championship with lead rider Tommy Hill and Virgin Mobile Cup champion Billy McConnell.