Testing for the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship will commence in Europe this week, with a selection of teams scheduled to test at Portimao and Almeria.

The Portimao tests will take place between 16-20 January, first featuring Pata Honda duo Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam during the opening three days before Aprilia’s Marco Melandri and test rider Alex Hofmann lead the final two days of testing.

New Voltcom Suzuki pairing Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes will test alongside Aprilia, continuing development of the factory GSX-R1000s. MV Agusta will also test Portimao with lone superbike rider Claudio Corti, alongside a host of World Supersport and superstock competitors.

Factory Ducati teammates Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano will test during the final four days at Portimao, between the 17th and 20th.

Meanwhile at Almeria in Spain, world champion Tom Sykes and Kawasaki teammate Loris Baz will be on track with the latest update of the factory WSBK ZX-10R on 16-17 January, as will Suzuki prior to travelling to Portimao.

Further testing is scheduled for 5-6 February at Jerez, including Kawasaki and Pata Honda, as well as the Pedercini Kawasaki team that could include Australian Mark Aitchison aboard an EVO version of the ZX-10R.