WHEN we look back at the season just gone, there is no doubt who the number one rider was, and I don't think there is a genuine fan who will disagree with me, that Ryan Farquhar is the rider of the season.

Right from the start at his home race at Cookstown, Farquhar hit the ground running with his own team, and despite having Conor Cummins and Keith Amor along with Gary Johnston as competition, Farquhar used his raw talents and experience to overcome the visiting riders and home talents, and started the season with three wins.

Tandragee was a slightly different day's work, where the Dungannon star had to fight hard, and only took one win, with Keith Amor winning the Grand Final and Michael Dunlop really shaking the established riders by winning a brilliant 600 race. What happened at the North West during the Superstock race really got to a lot of people, the way the organisers handled affairs – or were the team managers running the event? Farquhar was on the wrong end of a decision that saw the race win going to a factory team. It sickened me, and most genuine fans, to see a rider lose a race that was definitely his. The TT was not a success for Ryan, but on his return he demolished the opposition at most events, with the exception of Skerries where again Amor and Michael Dunlop were the thorn in his side. The season for Farquhar culminated in breaking Joey's record at Killalane – his tally for the season 32 national road race wins in Ireland. Some of you think I am being slightly hypocritical after the column I wrote after Killalane, but – no matter who he was racing against – he put on a great show and his machine reliability was amazing. Farquhar impressive CV for the season reads:

This is the reason that Ryan Farquhar is my number one National Road Race rider of the year. Like the 1980s and 1990s we have a Dunlop brother battle on the roads, and this year we saw Michael and William reaching maturity in their young careers, and to the large legion of fans they provided some thrilling races throughout the year.

Like their father and uncle before them, their skill saw them dominate the smaller classes of the 125 and 250, but this year they proved they have what it takes in the larger four stroke classes.

Michael took the first two small classes at Cookstown, and at Tandragee he continued his winning form in the smaller classes. But there he shook both Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor to win the 600 race, and while he didn't have the same success at the North West as he did the previous year, it was at the TT where he came to the fore. There were a few eyebrows raised during practice, when Michael broke the lap record in practice on Gary Ryan's Yamaha, but in the first 600 he only got as far as Union Mills when the Yamaha blew up.

In the second race the 21year-old really got the bit between his teeth, and to the delight of the Street Sweep Team, he took the TT victory on only his third visit to the TT.

After that wonderful success across on the 'Island' he returned to Skerries and provided a thrilling two-part race win in the 600, and gave more success to his local team. The Southern 100 was another fine event for the young Ballymoney rider, and while he didn't win he showed the top riders that there was another Dunlop to worry about.

Over the season he had scored three less wins than his brother, but to win a TT is the pinnacle of a rider's career, and Michael Dunlop proved that he has a real TT future on large four stroke machinery. • Mi c h a e l ' s CV: During the season William actually won more races than Michael, and without wishing to be seen as trying to favour one over the other, I have always had the belief that winning a TT is still the pinnacle of a rider's season, and that's why I have selected them in this way.

William's season really got going at the North West, where he scored a double, and kept going with three wins at the Southern, one at Scarborough, and nine national wins at various meetings to add to his CV.

But I think William really stepped up to the mark at the Ulster, when he beat his brother in a brilliant 250 race, and then shocked the established 600 men when he won the second Supersport race, after leading the first race for a period, only to finish third. He may be the older of the two brothers, but like his father before him, I believe he will step up to the mark even more next season. I know that he wants to try the British Championship scene, and after competing in the very last 250 GP ever to be held in Spain, he has the bug for the tighter short-circuit scene, but I believe he has the talents to go a long way in his chosen career and we look forward to a great 2010.

William's CV:

I would like to thank Richard Agnew and Ivan Davidson for all their help during the season, with keeping me up to date with results and championship positions, and all the important facts.

I also appreciate the help from all race secretaries, especially Sean Bissett, President of Motor Cycling Ireland, for his valuable assistance during the year.

Next week I will be reviewing our top local riders. If you want an input into the selection, email me at jackcorry45@gmail.com. I will also be judging the best National and Inter-national meetings, and I look forward to your thoughts. Please ensure that you contact me before 5.30pm on Saturday.

Keep 'er lit.

- Jack CORRY