Southern 100: Impressive line-up for Billown meeting

Guy Martin will return after missing last year's event through injury

The Southern 100 International Road Races will get under way on Monday evening on the Billown Course in the south of the Isle of Man.

Last year's solo champion Ryan Farquhar and sidecar winners Klaus Klaffenböck and Manxman Dan Sayle will all return to defend their titles.

As well as last year's champions there are a further four former winners in a strong line-up, including Guy Martin.

Martin had to withdraw from last year's event following a crash in the TT.

Farquhar and Martin will face fierce competition from the 2006 champion, Cameron Donald, and five times champion Ian Lougher as well as Michael Dunlop, fresh from his TT win and Manx Telecom Post TT victory less than a month ago on the same Billown circuit.

Michael's brother William Dunlop, along with other course specialists, Roy Richardson, Mark Buckley, John Burrows will also be in contention.

Local riders Conor Cummins and Dan Kneen will provide the local challenge.

In the sidecar races, current champions and three times TT winners Klaffenböck and Sayle will also have to fight to retain their title against the other sidecar victors at this year's TT, John Holden and Andy Winkle as well as three-times champion Ian Bell, with son Carl in the chair.

Meanwhile, in the smaller capacity classes, Castletown's Chris Palmer will be looking to add more wins to his tally.

The meeting, which dates back to 1955, will get under way with practice for both solo and sidecars on Monday 11 July, with roads closing at 1805 BST.

Racing will begin on Tuesday evening with Championship Day on Thursday.