KEY POINTS:
Paeroa's Battle of the Streets is big news for the small town - and with good reason.
Two-wheeled terrors from across the country, plus a few hotshots from overseas, arrived on Sunday for a day of high-speed action around a tight 1.6km street circuit.
New Zealand's street races have a huge following, letting bike fans see, smell and hear the racing from just a few metres away. It's a hugely entertaining way to spend a Sunday - exactly why it's been going strong for an impressive 16 years.
There's a good variety of classes to watch, including sidecars, historics and the crazy broadsliding super motards.
But the trophy to chase is the vaunted King of the Streets title.
Unfortunately It wasn't a Kiwi that took it home this year though, with experienced rider Craig Shirriffs pipped at the post by rising talent Gareth Jones winning by a shade over two seconds, with Aussie rider Damian Cudlin in third.
