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It definitely becomes a big part of you identity. That does make it hard to walk away. But I agree fully with you BSR6, it has a lifecycle and many stay too long. Walking away does free you up for so much more.
I am a bit stunned to find that in my return to racing, I found it even better than the first go around, and that it has become my livelihood as well as a hobby. If you do one thing long enough to get really good at it, it can actually pay you back. I can now say that I ride motos for a living. How cool is that?!