Stars rev up for this year's North West 200

Plans are already well underway for the annual spectacular in Portstewart, with the potential line-up representing a definitive guide to road racing's most revered gladiators.

The HM Plant Honda team has already pledged to return to the North West and the Isle of Man TT, retaining its 2009 pairing of Steve Plater and John McGuinness.

Plater is a huge attraction at the North West and in recent years has grabbed the spotlight from 12-times winner Michael Rutter, establishing himself as the event's de facto number one, having racked up eight victories since 2006.

His haul includes five triumphs in the coveted Superbike class, including a double in 2006, plus three Supersport successes with a brace in 2008 and victory on the HM Plant Honda CBR-600RR last May.

The 41-year-old Lincolnshire rider remains the man to beat at the Triangle venue in four months' time, but it goes without saying that continued success for Plater at the North West is far from a foregone conclusion.

Race Director Mervyn Whyte is hopeful he can lure British Superbike sensation Stuart Easton back to the Causeway Coast and given the Scot's consecutive victories at the Macau Grand Prix in the Far East and his form on the Hydrex Honda Fireblade in BSB last season, there is every reason to believe the former British Supersport champion will be a genuine contender in the premier class at the North West.

The Relentless TAS Suzuki team has once again put its faith in likeable Aussie Cameron Donald and Kiwi Bruce Anstey to deliver the goods in the international arena, and the Moneymore outfit also has an ace card up its sleeve in the form of Ulsterman Alastair Seeley.

Seeley is gunning for a third successive victory in the Superstock race and should he join Donald and Anstey on the TAS Superbike, the Carrick ace would surprise no-one if he was in the running to become the first local rider to win in the elite class since Portadown's Phillip McCallen in 1997.

And with Dungannon's Ryan Farquhar acquiring the MSS Colchester Kawasaki Superbike for 2010, perhaps the long wait for that first Ulster victory in the feature race will finally be over.

Never one to mince his words, 33-year-old Farquhar has made no secret of his burning ambition to achieve an international Superbike win – the only significant omission from an otherwise impeccable CV.

He narrowly missed out on victory in last year's Superstock race, which was cut short due to the weather. Knowing Farquhar, he'll be all the more determined to return to the North West and make amends for the frustration of his misfortune in 2009.

Ballymoney's Michael Dunlop has already underlined his credentials as a major player at the highest level and along with his brother William will expect to be right at the front of the pack in the Supersport, Superstock and Superbike races.

There are a host of other front-runners of course, with Conor Cummins (McAdoo Kawasaki), Guy Martin (Wilson Craig Honda), Keith Amor (JMF Millsport Yamaha), Ian Hutchinson, Gary Johnson, Ian Lougher (Blackhorse Kawasaki) and the highly experienced Michael Rutter equally fancied in the main classes.

Poor weather hampered the North West 200 last year, but the new seven-man management committee headed by former Clerk of Course Mervyn Whyte is determined to bounce back in 2010.

Changes planned for May include the possibility of a daytime practice session for the first time, while safety upgrade work has been carried out at the notorious Mather's Cross right-hander on the Portrush Road.

The 250cc race, won last year by William Dunlop, has been dropped from the programme, although the 125cc class has been retained.

A new sponsor for 2010 is also due to be unveiled in Belfast this morning (Tuesday).

Key contenders

Steve Plater

HM Plant Honda: The 41-year-old from Woodhall Spa has notched eight wins at the North West 200 since 2006. Plater has been particularly impressive in the Superbike class, with five victories to his name. Without doubt, the reigning British Supersport champ is the man to beat in the Supersport and Superbike classes in 2010

John McGuinness

HM Plant Honda: The last-lap, last-gasp, fairing-bashing nature that often decides the outcome of North West 200 races is perhaps not TT hero John McGuinness's cup of tea, but nevertheless the Morecambe man is a potential winner in the showpiece Superbike races – particularly if he can get away at the front

Bruce Anstey

Relentless TAS Suzuki: Bruce Anstey has built up a reputation as something of a course specialist at the North West, but the Kiwi has failed to win a race since his stunning hat-trick in 2007. He pushed Steve Plater all the way in the Superbike and Supersport races in 2009 and goes into this year's event as a major contender

Cameron Donald

Relentless TAS Suzuki: The laid-back Australian ace failed to make a big impression in tricky conditions last year, but Donald almost broke his North West 200 duck in 2008 when he went close in the Superbike and Superstock races. Another potential winner in the big classes

Guy Martin

Wilson Craig Honda: Cruel luck thwarted a certain victory in the feature Superbike race for Guy Martin in 2008. Yet to win at the North West, the charismatic 28-year-old will be eager to produce an improved performance in May after struggling to find his pace last year

Conor Cummins

McAdoo Kawasaki: A huge talent, young Manx rider Conor Cummins has what it takes to seal his debut victory at the Triangle in any class this year

Michael Dunlop

Team (TBC): Rode the wheels off the Street Sweep Yamaha to finish on the podium in the Supersport race in 2009. The Ballymoney man will expect a victory this time and could go close in the Superbike races on the right machine

William Dunlop

CD Racing: Last year's 'Man of the Meeting' following his 125cc/250cc double, William has set himself a new target for 2010 of repeating his Supersport victory at the Ulster Grand Prix on home territory

Ryan Farquhar

KMR/MSS Kawasaki: Craves a Superbike win at international level and with a fully-fledged ZX10 at his disposal will fancy his chances of fulfilling his goal at the North West. Also starts as a major favourite in the Superstock and Supersport races

Alastair Seeley

Relentless TAS Suzuki: The Carrickfergus rider has two Superstock victories to his credit and is aiming for a third win on the trot in the production-based class. Should be in contention for Supersport and Superbike honours as well, if he is given the chance to join team-mates Donald and Anstey

Ian Lougher

Blackhorse Kawasaki Racing: As fiercely competitive as ever, the wily Lougher can never be ruled out at any meeting and will be right in the mix in the Supersport, Superbike and Superstock races come May 15

Michael Rutter

Riders/Bathams Brewery Ducati: Claimed a prestigious Superbike win in 2008 to prove he can still cut it in the premier class at the North West and after a difficult year in 2009 will hope to return to the top step of the podium at his favourite event in May

Ian Hutchinson

Team (TBC): After a disappointing association with AIM Yamaha in 2008, Hutchinson firmly re-established himself on the roads with Padgett's Honda last year, winning at the TT and Ulster Grand Prix. Another top rider with realistic chances of victory in every class

Keith Amor

JMF Millsport Yamaha: The Scottish rider is still chasing his first international victory and will be keen to impress after joining the JMF Millsport Yamaha team this season. A podium finisher at the NW200 in the Superstock race in 2009

Gary Johnson

Team (TBC): The Englishman has been linked with a ride in Alistair Flanagan's AIM Suzuki team and with podium finishes at the TT and UGP in 2009 will have high expectations for the North West this year

Stuart Easton

Hydrex Honda: Scottish BSB star Easton is high on the wanted list at the North West 200. He has won the Macau Grand Prix two years running and if Race Director Mervyn Whyte seals his return to the north coast in May, Easton is tipped to cause an upset in the showpiece Superbike races on Shaun Muir's Honda