Why another complex minigame that will probably die in 2 weeks?

[Reynhart]

That's exactly what chocobo racing is though. You could be sailing away in first place and boom, choco meteor, now you're in last.

In theory yes, but isn't there a leveling system in that so that you can be screwed if you start way later than everyone ?
In Mario Kart, neither vehicles nor pilots change over time.

And, from what I've seen, the controls are really stiff with the invisible "lanes" making this a lot less fun to play that an actual racing game.