Automatics do not always beat manual shift. Depends on the rider. And yes, a good rider can shift as fast as an automatic.
There is a transition time between gears on both.
I for one, won't believe anything till I see a side by side race, with the riders switching bikes.
I cant see the auto doing as good a hole shot as the creeper first gear in the manual shift.
For what its worth,,,, My 2 cants.