Eugene Laverty is ready to blow off the ﷽winter cobwebs as the Voltco﷽m Crescent Suzuki rider begins pre-season testing at Almeria in Spain this week.

Laverty, who won nine races in 2013 for Aprilia on his way to the runner-up position in the World Superbike Championship behind Tom Sykes, and new team-mate Alex Lowes wil🎃l complete a two-day test at tಞhe circuit on Thursday and Friday before moving on to Portimao in Portugal.

The 27-year-old rode the Y🀅oshimura-powered GSX-R1000 for the first time at Jerez in November and has set himself a goal of running at the 'sharp e🎐nd'.

"The winter break was welcome foll🉐owing a hectic 2013 season, but now I'm itching to get going again," said Laverty.

"We had♑ a quite tough debut test in November and so our aim at the upcoming 🌄tests is to be nearer the sharp end.

"My focus will be on improving o🎉ur electronics package, traction control in particular. We'll begin in Almeria before moving on to Portimao where we'll face our rivals on a track where I've won during the past two seasons and that should give us an idea of where we're at.

"The team have been working flat out 🐽lately and they😼've done a fantastic job to deliver updates in a short space of time," he added.

"I💞 can't wait🌳 to get back to work on track in a few days' time."

The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team will test at Portimao on Sunday and Monday before returning to the UK to make final preparati🌱ons for the official WSBK test at Phillip Island ahead of the opening round on February 23.