Energy drink Drive M7 have pulled out of their contract with Eugene Laverty’s Aspar Honda MotoGP team, leaving the squad looking for a title sponsor one day before season begins.

Confirmed to bikesportnews.com via text, the the squad now need to find some cash in order to continue this season but it is not yet known how it affects the squad this weekend. All the Drive M7 branding has been pulled from Aspar's website and social media.

Boss Jorge Martinez had a deal for the whole of 2015 with an option for 2016 and the shortfall will be in the region of £3m. Aspar is the second team to fall foul of an energy drink manufacturer, with Go&Fun also leaving Fausto Gresini high and dry.

The news comes just hours after LCR’s sponsor CWM were raided by police in London and 13 people arrested over money laundering offences.