20 FEBRUARY 2009 - The cream of the country's motorcycle road racers hit the streets of Paeroa again this weekend.

The action is likely to be fast and furious on Sunday as this Coromandel town again shuts off its roads for the big annual Yamaha Battle Of The Streets race meeting.

And the rider most favoured to dominate again is perhaps last year's big winner there, Bernard Racing Yamaha Team star Gareth Jones.

Last year was the first time the young Australian had been to Paeroa, but the locals now know an awful lot about the trans-Tasman visitor after he totally dominated the day on his 1000cc Yamaha R1.

The man from the Gold Coast set a new lap record on his way to winning all three superbike races on the tight and demanding public street circuit last year, chased to the flag each time that day by Feilding's Craig Shirriffs.

"I've heard the track has been resealed too, so perhaps that lap record might fall this weekend," said Jones.

"It will be my second time there, so I know which way the track goes now," he laughed.

Shirriffs won the feature race at the only other street race meeting this summer, the Cemetery Circuit race day at Wanganui on Boxing Day, and that makes Jones more determined than ever to take his revenge at Paeroa on Sunday.

Jones dominated the 600cc class at Wanganui in December and won the day's first of two superbike races but then he came off his bike in spectacular fashion in the next race and lost his chance to win, that honour instead going to Hamilton rider Andrew Stroud.

With his superbike damaged beyond repair, Jones was forced to ride his 600cc Yamaha R6 in the day's feature race. Even so, he still managed an impressive runner-up finish.

"Craig and Andrew will again be fast this weekend so it's just a matter of me using my head. The Yamaha is perfect on these streets and I'm expecting good things."

After this weekend's outing, it is time for Jones, Shirriffs, Stroud and company to switch back to circuit racing mode with the fifth and final round of this season's New Zealand Superbike Championships set for Pukekohe in a fortnight (on March 8).

In that series, Jones is currently unbeaten in the 600cc sports production class and a close third overall in the premier superbike class as well, behind fellow Australian Robbie Bugden and Stroud.