Ryan Farquhar, Adrian Archibald and the Dunlop brothers, William and Michael, lead the Northern Ireland challenge at this year's Isle of Man TT Races.

Farquhar, twice a TT winner, has started the season in fine form and finished in the top six in each of the five races he competed in last year.

The Dungannon rider finished second in the Superstock race at the North West 200 and could have won if the event had not been red-flagged.

"I took a lot of positives from the North West - I'm particularly pleased with the way I've been riding and the way the Superstock bike is going," he said.

"I need some extra speed from the Supersport machine but we have been working on that and hopefully it will come together.

"I will also have a Kawasaki Superbike, supplied by World Endurance outfit Alf's, which I will ride for the first time in Monday night's practice session.

"The bike will be built to a totally different specification than the Endurance bike and it will be closer to the type of bike ridden by Simon Andrews in the British Superbike Championship.

I think I can challenge for the top six on the 600 bike if I know well enough where I'm going William Dunlop

"I'm happy with the machinery I have this year and believe I have a good chance of a podium in every class.

"The one thing I am not happy about is my start number of 12 and I've no idea how they work these things out.

"The TT is going from strength to strength but there is no real pressure on me so I'm just going to have a fun week."

William Dunlop was a double winner at the recent North West 200, the perfect confidence-booster before taking on the unforgiving 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

"I was very happy with the 125 win and although the 250 race was gifted to me, I've had plenty of bad luck at that race over the years so I was due a change of fortune.

"I missed the TT last year and still have a lot to learn about the circuit as I have only been there twice before.

"Having said that, I think I can challenge for the top six on the 600 bike if I know well enough where I'm going while I would be happy with a 'top 20' on the Superstock.

William Dunlop will ride in the CD Racing colours

"I'll spend a few days driving round and round the course to get reacquainted with it and after the main TT fortnight I'll take in the 125cc and 250cc races at the Billown circuit at Castletown.

"I've won the last five 250 races at Billown, with Ian Lougher second on each occasion, so I'm confident of my chances there."

Brother Michael was highly impressive in securing a brace of top-ten finishes at last year's island races and given his impressive displays on the Irish roads so far this season, he should repeat that feat.

Michael is scheduled to ride a Norton in the Senior race, plus Yamahas in the Supersport and Superstock races.

"I made a last-minute decision to compete in the TT last year and it went very well so I hope to make further progress this year," he said.

"My best chance of a good finish on the Mountain Course will probably come in the Supersport race as that bike's been going really well this year."

Adrian Archibald is a three-times TT winner from 2003 and 2004 and after several barren years on Mona's Isle, a third-place in last year's Superbike TT heralded a return to form.

The Ballymoney man will compete in all the races on the Mountain Course in his own privately-run AMA Suzuki outfit.

Practicing started on Saturday with the first timed practice scheduled for Monday evening.

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