Indeed. I'm quite good at dodging the barriers, but the AI is relentless. I usually try to get the 1st three pads and then boost but sometimes the AI goes all the way to zone 5 while I strugle to even get to 3 with the acumulated boosts. And sometimes when I get to zone 8, the AI is already at 17~19.

Tell me, does the energy of the ship matter when boosting? That would explain alot since I usually ram into the ships since I need to get the pad.