I guess for me, I always rode to have fun.
I couldn't really care less if I was faster or slower or smoother than anyone else. I suppose that is why I loved the baby Ninja so much was because it was just plain fun and nothing else.
So I never bothered to compare myself to other people. That doesn't mean I didn't take advice or watch others on the rare occassions that I rode with others. But if I wasn't as fast or smooth as them...oh well. At least I had fun.