Saturday’s Stoneyford Concrete Ulster Grand Prix boasts another top class entry for the penultimate international road race of 2009 with former World Superbike star Carl Fogarty guest of honour.

Such is the popularity of international road racing in its’ current guise, Clerk of Course Noel Johnson and his faithful lieutenant Eric Oliver, have secured no less than 37 newcomers for next week's event, with the main body of their entry coming from 15 countries across the globe.

All the main international teams and protagonists will turn out at Dundrod, with the exception of HM Plant Honda pairing, John McGuinness and Steve Plater. Plater was never pencilled in to attend, but lap record holder McGuinness' on/off appointment with the Ulster continues.

With or without the TT legend, this year's ‘Ulster' has all the ingredients to be a history maker. The dedicated team of volunteers at the Dundrod & District Motor Cycle Club have implemented circuit improvements over the past 12 months since the disastrous 2008 washout.

All we need now is a touch of good weather, and the fastest road race in the world could get even faster with the Dundrod 150 Races provide a curtain-raiser, on Thursday at 2.00pm.

The quality of the entry should provide great entertainment for the fans, with as many as 12 riders capable of standing on the top step of the podium in front of a packed Joey Dunlop Grandstand, so let's have a look at the main contenders.

Riding 'numero uno' in the four-stroke classes is Hydrex Honda's fast-talking Lincolnshire rider Guy Martin. A big fans' favourite, Guy will be looking to take his first international victory of the season at Dundrod.

Guy has recorded eight victories around Dundrod, with that famous four-timer back in 2006 proving how much he loves the 7.4-mile circuit. I just hope the Hydrex team give him the best tools for the job.

Ryan Farquhar is currently riding on the crest of a wave with 49 national road racing victories to his name prior to yesterday's inaugural Armoy Races. The 33-year-old Dungannon man has previously won the Superstock class at Dundrod but fancies his chances in the Superbike races next week, should everything go well in his one-off deal with MSS Kawasaki.

Ryan will have the use of Simon Andrews' British Superbike Kawasaki at Dundrod, and if he does succeed, he'll be the first Irishman to win a 'big race' at the Ulster Grand Prix since 2003 when Adrian Archibald triumphed.

Kiwi Bruce Anstey can never be discounted on Relentless Suzuki machinery and with team-mate Cameron Donald still not 100 per cent fit, I fully expect to see the 40-year-old model helicopter enthusiast 'flying high' at the front of the field in all four-stroke classes. Anstey has recorded seven career wins at Dundrod, and will be keen to replicate his hat trick from 2004 before going into his perennial winter hibernation.

Ian Hutchinson was very much out of favour at the start of 2009 before Clive Padgett threw him a career lifeline, and the 29-year Bingley man has repaid him with some stunning performances.

Two wins at TT09 cemented his credentials as one of international road racing's biggest talents and a recent podium in the British Superstock class will have him in fine form coming to Northern Ireland.

Keith Amor is another rider chasing his debut international victory and, like Hutchinson, the Wilson Craig Honda rider had a superb Isle of Man TT with two podiums. Keith will be strong in all four-stroke classes, but particularly the Supersport.

Looking to the younger generation, Manxman Conor Cummins knows what its like to stand on an Ulster Grand Prix podium. The 22-year-old has been enjoying a great year and will really fancy his chances in McAdoo Racing livery. Cummins has matured into a regular top-flight performer, and his ultra-smooth style will suit Dundrod.

Gary Johnson, riding for Uel Duncan's Robinson Honda team, I believe, is the next superstar of international road racing. He's served a short but intense apprenticeship and the super fit 28-year-old will relish the challenge that Dundrod throws up. Very much a danger to the big favourites.

Last, but certainly not least, are the Dunlop boys, William and Michael. Between them we expect to see total domination in the two-stroke classes, but it's the four-stroke classes where the real exposure lies in modern racing and both are capable of top results.

Michael, as we know, produced a gutsy performance at the TT in the Supersport class to take his debut win at international level, and on current form, he'll be a major threat again at Dundrod. I'm not so sure that he can mix it with the big boys in the Superbike class in the dry — more down to machinery than anything else — but if it's wet, he's a 'shoe in' for a podium.

William is also having a purple patch in the two stroke classes, but if Dundrod can stay dry, the quietly spoken and affable Ballymoney man will be doing his best to hang onto the main bunch in the Supersport races. Whether or not he can outshine his brother is open to question.

Others worth a mention are Adrian Archibald, eight times a winner at Dundrod; veteran Ian Lougher, with an incredible 15 Dundrod career victories; Christian Elkin who makes his racing return after his North West crash in May and newly married John Burrows.