diff --git a/sanic/request.py b/sanic/request.py
index 82fc64db..8023fd9c 100644
--- a/sanic/request.py
+++ b/sanic/request.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class RequestParameters(dict):
         return self.super.get(name, default)
 
 
-class Request:
+class Request(dict):
     """
     Properties of an HTTP request such as URL, headers, etc.
     """
diff --git a/tests/test_request_data.py b/tests/test_request_data.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..098878e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_request_data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from sanic import Sanic
+from sanic.response import json
+from sanic.utils import sanic_endpoint_test
+from ujson import loads
+
+
+def test_storage():
+    app = Sanic('test_text')
+
+    @app.middleware('request')
+    def store(request):
+        request['user'] = 'sanic'
+        request['sidekick'] = 'tails'
+        del request['sidekick']
+
+    @app.route('/')
+    def handler(request):
+        return json({ 'user': request.get('user'), 'sidekick': request.get('sidekick') })
+
+    request, response = sanic_endpoint_test(app)
+
+    response_json = loads(response.text)
+    assert response_json['user'] == 'sanic'
+    assert response_json.get('sidekick') is None