THE 2011 Duke Road Race Rankings have been launched and there will be a new trophy for this year.

A total of 26 events are on the schedule which runs from April to November - including the TT.

The rankings is the only series which measures performance across the entire road racing season.

The series was created by Duke Marketing and first run in 2002 when road racing veteran Ian Lougher took the title – his first of three so far.

The aim was to give recognition to racers who are committed to road racing.

Manxman Conor Cummins has won the series once - in 2007 - and Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar has won it an amazing five times.

Last year he topped the rankings for the third year in a row and, honouring a promise made many years ago, he was handed the prestigious Geoff Duke Trophy - named after six-times world champion and six-times TT winner Geoff Duke - to keep.

Geoff's son Peter Duke, managing director of Duke Marketing, confirmed a new trophy would be ready to hand over to whoever tops the 2011 rankings – the 10th running of the series.

He said: "It is fitting that 2011 marks the start of a new era for the Duke Road Race Rankings as the sport we celebrate – real road racing – has enjoyed a modern renaissance during the decade the rankings have been running.

“Visit almost any of the meetings in our 2011 schedule and you will find packed grandstands, full grids and paddocks heaving with top flight teams and leading racers - sure signs of confidence in the future of the sport.

"It comes as no surprise to me that there is an ever-expanding fan base - even in the USA - and continuing investment in real road racing.

"Others are now discovering what fans have always known; real road racing produces a jawdropping spectacle, incredible racing, pure drama and real passion.

"And now with modern TV technology, a whole new audience is growing worldwide.

"It is a sport about commitment and devotion. Just ask the hundreds of riders and teams who journey from Scarborough in April to Macau in November, visiting more than 20 other meetings along the way, to pursue their dream - investing time, money and hard work for often little reward other than the satisfaction of a good result or improved lap time.

"It was for these people we launched the Duke Road Race Rankings in 2002, to recognise their awesome dedication to racing on the roads, to thank them for the amazing racing we can enjoy throughout the year, year after year.

"So, as we prepare for the flag to drop at Oliver's Mount on April 17, we can look forward to another season of great racing. Good luck to all and may the best rider win!"

The 2011 Duke Road Race Rankings get underway on April 17 with the Spring Cup Road Races at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.

Once again, all the leading road racing names will be in competition for the title – including Ryan Farquhar, who has confirmed another season with his own KMR Racing team and the latest Kawasaki machinery.

Ryan, who was handed the Geoff Duke Trophy at the star-studded Adelaide Racer Awards in Belfast last month, said winning the Duke Road Race Rankings is an important accolade and a fitting reward for the massive commitment it takes to attend as many road racing rounds as possible.

He said: "I am totally over the moon to be keeping the Geoff Duke Trophy. It is something I have always had in the back of my mind since I had a discussion with Peter and Geoff at the Belfast Bike Show many years ago.

"Geoff said anyone who won it three times in a row would keep it. That is something I really wanted to do.

"It is an amazing trophy, as anyone who's seen it knows, anyone would be proud to receive it.

"It takes an amazing amount of effort to win the Duke Road Race Rankings, I don't think people realise the commitment it takes.

"There's a huge amount of personal effort which goes into going to all the national and international road races and competing in three or four classes – so, it means a huge amount to me to win, I’m really proud to have got my name on the trophy the number of times I have.

"The Geoff Duke Trophy is at the top of the list when it comes to road racing awards, being presented with it really is something special."