American rider Dwight Mitchell, the organizer of the of USA team which captured the ACU International Club Team Award in the 600 Supersport TT in 1999 is to campaign one of the Gallarate four-cylinder bikes in the Formula One, Production 1000 and Senior TTs. The F4S model will not be quite the same as the MV Giacomo Agostini rode to victory in 1972, but should evoke plenty of attention. The name MV Agusta evokes memories of a bygone age where nearly every race winner, every world champion rode the same type of motorcycle - MV Agusta. It is the most successful name in motorcycle road racing and has won more championships than any other motorcycle brand.

More usually known for campaigning Aermacchis and Manx Nortons in the Classic Manx Grand Prix, Yorkshire's Bill Swallow returns to the TT on what might prove to be the fastest bike in the meeting. A long time after he started his Mountain Course career on a Velocette, he will launch himself down Bray Hill on the 500cc ex-GP YZR ROC Yamaha timed at over 185mph at Dundrod's Ulster Grand Prix. This will be one swallow which really will fly!

Although Iain Duffus will ride V&M Yamahas in the Formula One and Senior races, he will be aboard Suzukis in the Production races and a Honda in the Lightweight 400. The winner of the 1994 Supersport 600 and 1995 Junior 600 was gutted at running out of petrol at Cronk-ny-Mona (a mile from the chequered flag) when leading the 2000 Junior 600 on the last lap.

Kiwi Bruce Anstey (28) looks a good bet for what might prove to be the last-ever TT250. The Wellington rider temporarily living in Southport, Lancashire, will pitch his CR Racing Yamaha against a small but select field and hope to lift the trophy, having finished runner-up to Joey Dunlop in 2000. Bruce also finished the leading 250 in the 2000 Senior, taking a fine 14th place at 114.43mph. This time he leaves the twin in the garage and goes for a 1000cc Yamaha in the Senior.

Winner at the past two TTs, John McGuinness (27) is struggling to be fit for this year's event. The 1999 Junior and 2000 Singles victor suffered a bad leg injury last year and the start of 2002 is going no better. The Morecambe, Lancashire, 1999 British 250cc Champion was forced to miss the Australian round of the World Supersport Championship at Philip Island, then contracted pneumonia at the South African round at Kyalami and was whipped into hospital. He is down to ride in six classes at the TT, where he is due to spearhead the Honda challenge alongside Irish ace Adrian Archibald.

No fewer than 35 solo and 22 sidecar competitors are domiciled in the Isle of Man. Heading the two-wheel troops is former South Wales resident Jason Griffiths from Ramsey, who has Yamahas in six classes, looking for a win after twice finishing runner-up in 1999 and once in 2000. Richard "Milky Bar Kid" Quayle rides Mark Johns' Hondas, looking to go one better than 2000 when he was runner-up to David Jefferies in the saturated two-lap Production race. Seven-times former winner Dave Molyneux re-unites with 1989 winning passenger Colin Hardman for an attempt on the Sidecar sub-20 minute lap.

A plaque commemorating the TT career of the late Arthur Wheeler is to be unveiled by representatives of the TT Riders' Association, of which he was a past president. It will be on the wall of the Ramsey Masonic Centre on the inside of the TT Course approaching Parliament Square. Some members of Arthur's family and a couple of his beloved Moto-Guzzis will be at the ceremony on Friday May 31. Arthur died last year aged 85, having taken part in Classic Parades until shortly before his death. He competed on the Mountain Course between 1937 and 1992.