Comparison Test: 2009 Middleweight Smackdown! - Rock, Paper, Scissors...

Just a hair over one second separates the quickest time from the slowest, once again indicating how closely matched the five bikes are in this comparison. As stated before, the times are significantly slower than last year due to colder weather conditions and pavement deterioration that resulted in numerous sealer patches with poor traction in critical areas for lap times. Still, all the bikes had to run on the same course conditions, so the times shown here are relative.

While the ZX-6R shows its superior acceleration and handling powering through this section, the GSX-R is surprisingly able to keep pace with the more powerful Triumph off the slow Turn 1. Where the Triumph loses time is a rough section of pavement at the entrance to Turn 2; the suspension still isn’t able to handle the bumps that well, resulting in some speed loss as El Jefe is forced to wrestle the Daytona 675 back on line. The Honda's top-end deficit shows here, and the R6 loses too much time at the beginning of the turn to make up.

The apex of Turn 4 crests the one hill on the course, placing a premium on front-end feedback and quick acceleration off the apex. Once again the ZX-6R and Daytona 675 demonstrate their superior speed into and over the Turn 4 hill, with the Triumph showing better apex speed even though it loses a bit in the upper gears accelerating toward the Turn 5 kink. The top-end deficit of the Honda and Suzuki are apparent in their slower section times.

Here is where the benefits of the ZX-6R's engine and front-end come into play, with the Kawasaki showing a blistering entrance speed in this decreasing radius sweeper that is over 3 mph faster than the next bike. Segment times are basically a wash in this 180-degree turn, with the Triumph's superior midrange punch apparent in its high exit speed, while the R6's agility allows it to carry speed into and out of the turn.

This series of switchbacks rewards quick steering and good power, and interestingly the GSX-R gets through quickest, even though its acceleration deficit shows in its slow exit speed. Once again the R6 makes good use of its agility here, carving through with the second-quickest time and highest exit speed. The ZX-6R's slow showing here was mostly due to gearing with the control tires, as it was forced to come off the exit of the switchbacks between gears.

Here is a measurement of each bike's speed at the end of the straight just before Turn 8, the fastest part of the course. The Kawasaki's top-end advantage is plainly evident, as is the Honda’s deficit. The R6 might be down a couple of ponies to the GSX-R, but the Yamaha's top-end acceleration advantage allows it to post a higher speed. The Triumph comes off the exit of the esses well, but it loses its acceleration advantage as the speeds get faster.