Following on from a battling World Superbike debut at Portimao last weekend, Tommy Bridewell was invited to test for the Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni team which he did at the Portuguese circuit today and as a result put in an impressive performance.

Using the Yamaha R1 ridden in this year's Superstock FIM 1000 Cup by Italian Michele Magnoni, the 20-year-old from Devizes was instantly on the pace and consistently lapping faster than team-mate Michele Pirro, who finished fifth in the 2008 Championship.

Sharing the track with a number of World Superbike teams, Bridewell unofficially lapped at a similar time to the DF Racing Hondas of Regis Laconi and Lorenzo Lanzi to top the unofficial Superstock 1000 time sheets after his 22 laps around the 4.6km track.

Speaking afterwards, Bridewell commented: "The bike is very good and I'm pleased with the way the test went. We were packing up to go home on Sunday night when they came over to the motorhome and asked if I would like to stay on and test and I'm glad I did as this hasn't done me any harm. The team have made noises about wanting me to race for them next season and I'd be very interested in talking with them as the bike and the team are capable of winning the title so we'll see what comes of it. But right now, I have to talk with my personal sponsors and to see what they want to happen as well as considering a number of other possible options for 2009."

As well as the likes of Shane Byrne, Max Biaggi, Ben Spies and Tom Sykes, Bridewell was sharing the track with none other than multiple Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher who was putting in some fast laps on his own superbike.