I think this is more "party racer" territory than Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (much less something like Sonic Riders or Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers) but it's good at what it does and "do one lap on a different track" is a less intrusive gimmick than "drive the interstate for half a race"
Sega really need to port Transformed it was so damn good…
oh and I know people have been curious about how different the Extreme Gear boards are/aren't compared to the cars: functionality is all the same as cars, but the boards emphasize the Boost stat, so if you like chaining boosts and using gadgets that give you more boosts, they're good for you
honestly I would've loved them to be a little more unique but making them a class of vehicle that shines when you actively engage with the mechanics more is a good compromise
Just waiting for the Sponge.