By Richard Petrie
BBC Sport |
The 'Peter Pan' of racing has been winning at the top level since the mid- 1980s and has proved his competitive spirit with some outstanding displays.
Riding for the Honda-backed DMRR team, the Welshman has won in the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes.
He also dominated the Southern 100 meeting, scoring five victories.
Now based in Dromore in Northern Ireland, Lougher appears to be getting better with age in a sport where circuit knowledge is often decisive.
The 42-year-old began his season by winning the Superstock race at the North West 200 in changeable weather conditions.
He followed that up with his seventh Isle of Man TT win in one of the Supersport 600cc races, and then crowned a successful year with that Dundrod hat-trick.
"I am fortunate in that I have a great team of sponsors and technicians behind me," said the veteran campaigner.
"Honda provided me with good machinery this year and things have gone pretty well.
"I used to be regarded as a 125 specialist but hopefully in recent years, I have proved that I can win regularly on the four-stroke bikes too."
Lougher's main challenger for the title of international road racer of the year must be Englishman John McGuinness.
 |  You can take a few risks and pay the price or you can ride sensibly and be fit to fight another day |
After failing to register a win at the North West 200 in May, the Morecambe man went on to win the prestigious TT Superbike and Senior TTs on the Isle of Man.
After switching from Yamaha to Honda, he won two races at 'the Prix' and but for the intervention of heavy rain, it could have been more.
"I am a bit wary of pushing too hard on road circuits when it is wet," said the former bricklayer.
"You can take a few risks and pay the price or you can ride sensibly and be fit to fight another day. It's a different situation to racing on circuits."
With �50,000 in prize money from his TT wins, McGuinness can reflect on a productive season, with the promise of more to come next year.
Having ridden for the Stobart Honda team at Dundrod, he is set to ride for the Paul Bird-managed team at all the international events in 2006.
Ryan Farquhar must be considered as 'the best of the rest' with three 600cc wins, one at each of the 'big three' meetings, although a Superbike win still eludes him.
Bruce Anstey had a disappointing season by his high standards, although he did win the feature race at the North West 200 and the Superstock TT in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
Illness hampered his efforts in the early part of the season while a spill at the UGP halted his challenge there.
Elsewhere, Adrian Archibald and Richard Britton failed to register wins but both Guy Martin and Martin Finnegan fulfilled their potential with some fine displays.
MMIX
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