PBM Ducati's Glenn Irwin is the local favourite as he looks to win his ninth Superbike race in a row - which would bring him level with Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter. He comes into the event off the back of a hat-trick of victories at the British Superbike Championship round at Oulton Park.

"I don't feel the pressure, I train and work to win," Irwin said. "I never go wanting to be happy with third or anything like that.

"It would mean a lot [to break the record]. It's something I think about quite a lot. There's a lot of track action to come before then, but I'd be quite disappointed if I didn't win all three, to be honest."

BMW rider Davey Todd has impressed at the North West 200 and is a serious challenger, while Honda's Dean Harrison will be looking for honours after switching from a long-term ride on Kawasaki.

"I'm feeling in a really good place and my team are doing a fantastic job," said Todd, who will also ride a Ducati in the Supersport class.

"I want to battle with Glenn, we always have good battles here and he's had too many wins in a row now, so someone has to put a stop to that. We're good friends and it's a good rivalry"

Peter Hickman has been the man to beat at the Isle of Man TT and has shown flashes of his brilliance at the North West 200, while you can never discount an on-song Michael Dunlop, who is looking his first win since 2016.

Richard Cooper has taken to the event like a duck to water and will be looking to continue his dominance in the Supertwins and aim for Supersport glory.

“I had a second and third plus two wins last year, but I want those four wins this time and I believe I have the best opportunity of doing that," said Cooper.

“My Supertwin bike is very competitive, and I know the Supersport class is very competitive, so I am under no illusion that it is going to be difficult, but I want to win.”

There are also legends of the sport such as John McGuinness, Jeremy McWIlliams, Rutter and Ian Hutchinson, but for the first time in 20 years record wins holder Alastair Seleeywill not be lining up at the event and fan favourite Lee Johnston is injured.

Image source, Pacemaker

Away we go! The Newcomers are out on circuit and the 2024 North West 200 is off and running!

Glenn Irwin completed a brilliant treble at the bank holiday weekend British Superbikes round at Oulton Park to storm to the top of the championship standings.

After his Race One win on Sunday,Irwin edged out Tommy Bridewell in the 12-lap Race Two before fending off Christian Iddon in a concluding thriller where only 0.665 seconds separated the top four.

Irwin's three wins mean he takes a six-point championship lead over overnight leader Ryan Vickers, who secured his first podium of the weekend by finishing third in Race Three.

Read more about Glenn Irwin's weekend victories here.

Image source, Pacemaker

Becca Keegan
BBC Sport NI at the North West 200

It's nearly time for the action to get underway and, as is tradition at the North West 200, the newcomers to the event will get some laps under their belts before the official action gets under way.

You have to wonder how they are feeling before they take on the 8.9 mile circuit. Nervous, would be my guess!

It's all thumbs up from Swiss rider Mauro Poncini ahead of his first time on the track.

Fermanagh native Lee Johnston says he is "frustrated" not to be racing at this year's North West 200 but excited to be at the event and be part of the BBC Sport NI team, offering expert analysis on the livestreamed video coverage on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

Read more of what five-time NW200 winner Lee had to say in his exclusive BBC column here.

Image source, Pacemaker

Lee Johnston has failed to recover sufficiently from a broken leg sustained in a testing crash in Cartagena to compete at this week's North West 200.

The 35-year-old will however be part of the BBC Sport Ni broadcasting team at this year's event.

Read more here.

Image source, Pacemaker

It's that time of year again when the engines fire up and some of the best motorcycle riders in the world hit Northern Ireland's north coast.

The North West 200 is back and this year there are nine races to look forward to, including three Superbike outings for the first time.

From the ones to watch to where to catch the action - here's all you need to know about the North West 200.

Read more here

BBC Sport NI will again have comprehensive and exclusive coverage of this year's North West 200 road races.

You can read full details of the coverage across television, radio, online and digital services here, external.

We also have details of road closure times, a preview and the lap records of the various classes at the meetings.

Image source, Pacemaker

Image source, Pacemaker

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today's opening practice session for the North West 200 international road races on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

This year's first qualifying run is being staged a day later than in previous years because of Monday's British Superbike round at Oulton Park but we are confident that it will be worth the wait once the action begins on track this morning.

Most of the world's top road racers and some of the most exotic racing machinery has been assembled in the paddock situated adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean between the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart and with the weather seemingly set fair for the next few days we are just about ready to rumble.

Soon the sound of roaring engines will fill the air around the 8.97-mile Triangle circuit with the newcomers first away today at approximately 09:45 BST, followed by Superbikes (provisionally 10:30 BST), Supersports (11:45), Superstocks (12:45) and Supertwins (13:45).

We will have full live streamed video coverage here on the BBC Sport website and on BBC iPlayer from 10:00, with live text commentary throughout to keep you up to date with all the news and the latest practice speeds.

Thanks for joining us and we hope that you enjoy our extensive and comprehensive coverage of the 2024 North West 200.

Image source, BBC Sport