Ireland's Eugene Laverty has once again stunned the World Suprbike paddock by repeating the testing performance he gave at Magny-Cours last year, setting the fastest time aboard the factory Aprilia at Portimao yesterday.

Pata fielded the bike out of their garage but in plain bodywork, although the spec of the swingarm and engine gave away it was Max Biaggi's bike, and Laverty made a slow start but got well below lap record pace before officials called a halt to proceesings at 3pm.

Castrol Honda's Jonathan Rea was only a tenth slower than Laverty on a 1'42.9 after testing four bikes, all with different engine and chassis specs. Joan Lascorz was third fastest and Leon Haslam, on the 2012 S1000RR, fourth in a 1'43.2.

Maxine Berger turned in a good performance to go fifth quickest on the Liberty Ducati he will champion next year with Tom Sykes still riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R, which bodes well for next year. Marco Melandri was riding 2011 and 2012 spec BMWs while Brett McCormick was on the spare Liberty bike. Michel Fabrizio crashed early on but recovered to post a 1'44.4.

Unofficial times:

1. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) 1'42.8

2. Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) 1'42.9

3. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) 1'42.9

4. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1'43.2

5. Maxime Berger (Effenbert Liberty Ducati) 1'43.3

6. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 1'43.3

7. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike) 1'43.4

8. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1'43.7

9. Brett McCormick (Effenbert Ducati) 1'44.2

10. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike) 1'44.4