It also gives some more difficulty to the racing game. If you don't aim well you will miss this checkpoint, have to fly back to get it.
Is an option... but the checkpoints must be clearly visible (or there must be some kind of pointer/arrow/navigation system).
I'll be rather frustrating if you would miss them, even when you realy focus on the game. Then you need to memorize the sequence of checkpoints to be able to win the race, and those situations should definitly be avoided.