i too think a 600cc is a good all rounder and i've always been a huge fan of the R6 and kawa ZX6R... and it's true people are a lot more confident handling a smaller bike around corners... the R1 leaves everyone eating dust on the straights in the open catogery but loses its lead on the goose neck at katu...
also maybe A*W couldn't justify the cost of racing and maintaining an R1...