Trust me, the feeling that you had when you went to the track today is one that you should listen to and listen hard, it is called 'common sense'. Never feel as if you have to prove something, take your time. Believe me, for every "competent jumper" out there, there are 15 guy's who thought that they were that are in rehab!
Pick up No Fear's "One" video and you will see and read in the credits at the end what 'going big' will get you when you go beyond the limits of your skill's, the bikes potential, and last, but not least, Mother Nature and the laws of physics!
It is serious business and you need to be very attentive, not everyone of us has the "nine lives" that SETHRO does!!!! You can take that to the bank.