Race away..... Novice can be a competitive class just as any other..There are all skill levels that will be there... We have tried with the Maverick class to get more experienced racers out of novice. Don't let it be about a podium finish. Let it be about the experience of racing and pushing yourself. Have fun with it. Heck, I DNF'd my first novice race, almost put a rider in the river the second and have managed to break a chain every race at Sylvan...