Remember this scene from First Stage? Before the big race between Ryousuke and Takumi, Ryousuke said the following: "There are two people who will surpass me. One of them will be you, Keisuke. And the other person..." Even though he said he's not planning to lose there, he was prepared for it. It's not a matter of losing spirit. It's more than that. Many opponents in Initial D lost because they treat victory as the only thing that matters, forgetting the actual meaning of racing.

Racing should be fun and competitive. It shouldn't be a result-oriented sports. It should be about continuously pushing one's limit and improve more and more in the process of it. Ryousuke already see past the superficial meaning and prepare to give it his best. I believe he would still recruit Takumi as part of Project D even if Takumi lost to him. Ryousuke is looking for potential and he believes Takumi's potential is limitless. Of course, he thinks Keisuke will be much faster. In a sense, that's where the idea of Double Ace starts to develop. And that ultimately tie back to the meaning of Initial D --- Dream, as Ryousuke revealed to us in Fifth Stage Episode 6 what racing mean to him.

(Source Images: Initial D First Stage Episode 24「赤城の白い彗星!」"Akagi's White Comet!")

Very well said.

SPOILER

I still think Takumi needs to know the true meaning of defeat, it will only make him a better driver like Bunta mentioned.

What do you have to say about Project D then?

Good question kyon. I'm wondering the same thing.

And man did First Stage look awesome on occasion.

Racing, as a sport, will always be result-driven. Time is everything, place is everything, angle and proximity (Sorry Yoshida) are everything. It's a numbers game no matter what type of racing is being undertaken; G forces, horsepower, torque, it all matters.

That's not to say that racing as a HOBBY is the same way. Sure, anyone who really gets into it will enjoy the competitive numbers side as well, but any racing hobbyist will be just as interested in the community and going out on the track to have fun.

one realises that most drivers in Super GT, and NASCAR even are in it because they have fun doing it. sure they worry about the numbers when they have to but on the track they're out there doing what they love.

Wow, just look at that artwork from First Stage. Compare that to Fifth Stage and it looks like two completely different anime... That is so wild... Oh sorry! Didn't mean to get off topic! What were we talking about? Oh yes, as a hobby you have to do what you love or else what's the point in you doing it. You know what I mean?