By Richard Petrie BBC Sport

This year's North West 200 and Isle of Man TT road races look set to be the most exciting of recent years.

All the top names in this exhilarating and high-risk branch of two-wheel sport will be on the grid for the two major international events of the season.

David Jefferies is the lap record holder at the Isle of Man TT

TT lap record holder David Jefferies heads the English contingent, along with British Superbike contender Michael Rutter and John McGuinness, a former winner at both events.

Welshman Ian Lougher will be joined by compatriots Jason Griffiths and Nigel Davies and Jim Moodie and Iain Duffus spearhead the Scottish challenge.

New Zealanders Bruce Anstey and Shaun Harris should again be prominent while Northern Ireland will be represented by Adrian Archibald, Richard Britton and Ryan Farquhar.

BBC Sport Interactive assesses the prospects for the highlights of the road racing season.

Top teams and riders

David Jefferies will once again be the man to beat, particularly at the Isle of Man TT, where he currently holds the lap record at over 127 mph.

The Yorkshireman has opted to stay with the TAS Suzuki team with which he enjoyed such success last season and will be a major contender for Superbike and Production race honours.

Jefferies is joined in Suzuki colours by his new teammate, Ulsterman Adrian Archibald.

Archibald is a multiple Irish champion and an Ulster Grand Prix winner but he has yet to record his first victory at the North West or the TT.

He endured a disappointing year on Honda machinery last year and was edged out in a photo-finish by Iain Duffus in the North West 200 Superbike race.

Michael Rutter is a former Isle of Man TT winner but the Renegade Ducati rider is still seeking his first Superbike success on the Isle of Man.

He has not competed on the Island since 2000 but returns this year to race in all the major classes.

The Midlander has won seven races at the North West 200 and should add to that tally this year.

Ryan Farquhar has switched from Kawasaki to Suzuki

Ian Lougher will ride the Honda SP-2 machine which took Colin Edwards to the World Superbike title last season.

The 38-year-old is a veteran road race campaigner and hopes to score his first victory in the Superbike class at both meetings.

With a full stable of bikes, he will also take part in the 125cc, 600cc and Production races.

Steve Plater will join him in the Honda UK colours for the North West 200 on May 10.

Plater is a former winner at the Portstewart triangle circuit and is concentrating his efforts this year on the British Superbike Championship.

Morecambe's John McGuinness will be a major threat, riding Ducati machinery in the Superbike class and flying the flag for Triumph in the 600cc class.

Jim Moodie, a multiple winner at both events, will join McGuinness on a Valmoto Triumph and will be eyeing the big prizemoney available in the Superbike class if he can find the right machinery.

Iain Duffus will hope to repeat his win at the North West last year when he takes to the grid on an ETI Suzuki.

Robert Dunlop didn't have a good 2002 season

The Glenrothes rider also has a Crossan 600 Yamaha in his stable.

Richard Britton will campaign a 600cc Kawasaki at both events and also has use of the Suzuki which saw him lap at over 125mph in last year's Senior TT, becoming the fastest Irishman ever round the circuit.

Ryan Farquhar switches from Yamaha to Suzuki for the Superbike class this year and could well occupy a podium position at this year's Isle of Man races.

Jason Griffiths and Nigel Davies both have significant road racing pedigree while BruceAnstey and Shaun Harris are set to head the annual Kiwi invasion.

Anstey was a winner at the North West Production class last time round.

Robert Dunlop will be hungry for success in the 125 events, having failed to step on the top podium at either event in 2002.

The North West 200 is staged from 6 May to 10 May and the Isle of Man TT Races will take place from Saturday 24 May to Friday 6 June.