Wow, lots of questions, where to start. The first thing to consider is what you can afford to buy which includes appropriate gear. New to the sport indicates that you should look into a used machine 6-8 years old that can take some abuse and help teach you the necessity of maintenance. Going for the lastest greatest is fine but will set you back $7000 and that does not include a way to transport the bike or maintain it. I would first look into your local area and meet some folks that ride, find out where they will be and go check it out. Local tracks tend to have websites so you can get their schedules and go the races. Your skills will ultimately determine what bike to get if you can afford it. Good luck and read some of the forums concerning "What bike do I get". Good info to be found with the Search Function.