Ryan Farquhar on target for fifth successive Duke crown

Northern Ireland's Ryan Farquhar is the big favourite to win the prestigious Duke Road Race Rankings title for a fifth consecutive season.

The KMR Kawasaki rider has lifted the coveted trophy every year since 2008 and also won the championship in 2003 and 2004.

Farquhar, who dominated the recent Mid-Antrim 150 and Bush national road races to cement his position at the top of the Duke points standings, is chasing a record seventh success overall.

The Duke Road Race Rankings Series is the most comprehensive championship in road racing, covering a total of 27 rounds throughout the year.

It includes the three major international races, the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, plus the Macau Grand Prix in November - the final round of the championship.

A host of Irish road races plus the meetings at Scarborough and events in the Far East such as Horice and Terlicko in the Czech Republic also count towards the title.

After 11 rounds, Farquhar leads the way on 2022 points from Michael Dunlop on 582 points and John McGuinness in third place, who has 572 points.

The top six is completed by Cameron Donald and William Dunlop, who are tied on 497 points, with Alastair Seeley in sixth place following his treble at the North West 200.

McGuinness, Donald and Seeley will eventually drop down the order as the trio will not compete in any Irish national road races this season, with Seeley's only outing on the roads coming at the NW200 each year.

Honda TT Legends riders McGuinness and Donald will also miss the Ulster Grand Prix in August due to a date clash with a round of the Endurance World Championship.

Previous winners of the Duke Road Race Rankings Series include Ian Lougher (2002, 2005, 2006) and Conor Cummins (2007).

Farquhar won the title last year from Michael and William Dunlop.