600's Vs 1000's at Daytona. How do they compare?

[supercarl]

I'm thinking about doing a couple heavyweight and unlimited classes on my r6 at Daytona this year, but with the extra costs of Daytona I would like to know if its worth it. So how do the 600's fair against the 1000's and heavyweights? Do the bigger bikes have a huge advantage or can the 600's hold their own against them? I've never been to DIS so idk.

I normally race against the big bikes at blackhawk, but that track is a lot tighter so they dont have too much of an advantage. I think Daytona will be a totally different story though lol. What do you guys think? Should I save my money and tires or is it worth a shot?

[DougG60]

As and amateur if your really fast then there is a very slim chance against a 1000, a 750 maybe if you can draft them but still disadvantage. Expert forget it in unlimited. I run an 848 and get smoked in supertwins against the bigger bikes. Got put into the open practice last with the bike bikes last year, didnt scare me at all but out of place big time. Prime example.. was coming onto the front straight going 160-165. PJ Jacobson on a 1098 went by me somewhere north of 190. you are at such a hp disadvantage its not funny. If you want to do it for more track time then go for it

[Tornado Bait]

Daytona is a horsepower track.  A power deficit is VERY hard to overcome against your competitors.

[MELK-MAN]

don't let the talk of "hp track" scare you too much. Fast riders go fast everywhere no matter what they ride, including Daytona. Many 600 riders have much faster lap times than some 1000 cc or 750 riders.. that isn't to say ALL of them do, but it's the same at any track. Good riders go fast no matter what. Can you win a 1000cc race on a 600? not likely unless you are wicked fast. But you can be competitive. Not as competitive as at some of your local tracks you frequent, but you can do "ok".

[supercarl]

alright good advice thanks! I think I'll just do one or two against the 1000's then. Only reason I would want to race those 1000 races is if I had a shot at the podium. Otherwise there no real motivation for me. Just having track time isnt worth the cost to me.

Think Ill still do the heavyweights tho

[Tornado Bait]

Fact:  The disparity between lap times of big bikes and middle weights increase proportionately with time spent WFO.  The OP is asking for advise comparing Blackhawk and Daytona.  The difference between them is night and day.  Don't take this the wrong way.  I'm not discouraging anyone from racing "up" at Daytona, but realistically it takes one hell of a rider to make up for the advantage bigger bikes have on the banks and long straight.  My last trip there I raced a 600 and a 1000.  On my home track my best lap times were within tenths of a second from either bike.  At Daytona there was ~5 seconds separation.

As a first timer to Daytona you'll realize quickly there is nothing like it anywhere else.  You may want to consider holding back some registration $ until after you've done the practice day to see for yourself.  Then if you want to enter some HW or unlimited races you can do so based on first hand knowledge of the field.