James Courtney on his 750cc Honda is the fastest combination in Irish road racing this year, but the darling of the crowd is unquestionably the legendary Joey Dunlop (46).

The rider from Ballymoney, Co Antrim, has thrilled the spectators at road races for three decades, and when he crashed heavily at Tandragee last May there was much speculation that he would retire. Not a chance. After he won the 250cc TT in the Isle of Man in June, he took a seven-week break before returning to race in the Mid-Antrim 150, Kells, Monaghan, Ulster Grand Prix and Carrowdore. Sunday's races at Killalane, Skerries, are likely to be his last of the season.

He tops the 120-strong entry, and will compete on 125cc and 250cc Hondas as well as the very quick 500cc Grand Prix Honda vee-twin. Courtney is fancied to break the 105.37 m.p.h. lap record for the 3.5-mile circuit, set last year by Welshman Jason Griffiths, also on a 750cc Honda.

Top three in the 250cc class should be Owen McNally, Denis McCullough and Gary Dynes, with the wily Dunlop well capable of beating the younger tigers.

A similar situation is likely to occur in the 125cc race, with Mark Curtin from Crumlin, Dublin, chasing a podium finish.

The Irish Schoolboy MCC at Johnstown, Naas, has attracted a class field for the Inter-Centre Team Motocross and International Challenge, representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (north and south).

The Irish riders to watch are Adam Lyons, Phillip McCullough, Trevor Cubitt, David and Ian Coates and Mark Mooney, plus young chargers David Chambers, Ciaran Lawless, Gavin Fetherstone and Karl O'Doherty. Also on Sunday, the Southern Centre Trials Championship resumes with the Dublin & District MCC's Bob Thompson Trial at the Slade, Crooksling. The Tarmac Rally Championship has been won for the second successive year by Austin McHale, with two rounds to run. The top tarmac drivers McHale and Andrew Nesbitt, both driving Toyota Celica GT4s, are not doing the Manx. The Irish interest in the Isle of Man penultimate round is centred on Kanturk driver Liam O'Callaghan. The Manx is on today and tomorrow.

Dublin driver Michael Cullen is all hyped up for another good result at Oulton Park, Cheshire, this weekend. With three races to run, Alan Morrisson could win the championship as he shares second position.

Tomorrow's motor racing at Kirkistown will feature the penultimate round of the Dunlop Touring Car Championship.