Michael and William Dunlop will again be among the leading challengers for honours at the North West 200 road races

By Richard Petrie BBC Sport NI

Brothers William and Michael Dunlop are in prime position to add to their tally of North West 200 wins on Saturday.

William, the elder of the sons of the late Robert, has secured pole position for the 125cc race and will start as a hot favourite to add to his two victories in the two-stroke classes last year.

"I managed to earn pole position by posting a good time on Tuesday night," said the 25-year-old, who currently lies third in the British 125 championship.

"Although the bike let me down with a broken crankshaft on Thursday, it was easily fixed and I'm feeling confident for the race if it's a dry day."

William also has high hopes of a good result in the Supersport 600cc class in which his younger brother topped the practice timesheets.

Michael set the fastest lap of the race in finishing third behind Steve Plater and Bruce Anstey last year, but went on to secure victory on the same machine at the Isle of Man TT.

Steve Plater is out after breaking an arm during Thursday's practice

"I wasn't happy with the bike on Tuesday night but we made a few alterations and I know it's good enough to win if I can produce the goods on the day," he said.

Michael's only North West win to date came in that emotional 250cc race in 2008 in which he took the chequered flag just two days after the death of his dad in a crash at Mather's Cross.

The two Superbike races look likely to be closely contested in the absence of favourite Plater, whose dominance is reflected in the fact that he has won five of the last seven races over the Triangle circuit.

Plater's HM Plant Honda team-mate John McGuinness set the second fastest time in qualifying and could add to his solitary Superbike success at the event if he gets off to a good start.

Scotsman Keith Amor has qualified his BMW on the front row of the grid and if the Falkirk man was to win it would give the German factory their first victory at the international road race.

Kawasaki pair Conor Cummins and Ryan Farquhar should also challenge strongly and Honda-mounted Stuart Easton and Guy Martin are potential winners too.

Relentless TAS Suzuki trio Alastair Seeley, Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey have a lot of ground to make up however after two disappointing qualifying sessions.

Stuart Easton is aiming for his first podium place at the North West 200

Seeley, Farquhar and Michael Dunlop all have realistic ambitions of ending a 13-year drought without a Northern Ireland victory in the blue riband big bike races.

Meanwhile Manxman Cummins set the fastest time in Thursday's extended Superstock practice but Farquhar, Amor and Seeley were all hot on his heels and a keenly fought five-lap tussle is anticipated.

Ian Hutchinson who came out on top in this class at last year's TT and Ulster Grand Prix, also qualified well, while Ian Lougher, Michael Dunlop, McGuinness, Michael Rutter, Martin, Donald and Anstey should all contend.

Antipodean duo Donald and Anstey again have ground to make up as they start from the fifth and sixth rows of the grid respectively.

Michael Dunlop faces strong competition in the Supersport class with Amor, Hutchinson, McGuinness and Anstey all over the 114mph mark in qualifying.

William Dunlop, Seeley, Martin and Farquhar completed the top 10 practice leaderboard and any of these four could find themselves on the top step of the podium.

Former British 125 champion Chris Palmer looks the most likely threat to William Dunlop in the two-stroke class, having previously finished second on three occasions, but Ballymoney man Paul Robinson could spring a surprise.

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