Portugal’s Autodromo do Algarve track will host the first official World Superbike tests of 2009 at the end of January with the manufacturer tyre test teams there for three days from the 23rd.

All the Superbike and Supersport factory and private teams entered for the 2009 championships will be attending in what promises to be an exciting taster for the season to come.

The current year’s schedule will conclude with three days of Pirelli testing at Kyalami, South Africa, from December 10th to 12th but this will only be for the manufacturer tyre development teams.

The January test in Portugal meanwhile will be the first opportunity to catch a glimpse of all the new bikes, teams and riders on European soil, before the season itself gets underway with the opening round in Australia on March 1st.

The 2009 championship is also due to have its scheduled launch the day before the tests, on Thursday 22nd January, with an official press conference at the circuit.