It's pretty well understood that dynamic friction (spinning the tires) is significantly lower than static friction (not spinning the tires). You'll be able to corner better, accelerate faster, and simply get around the course more quickly with the right tire compound and not drifting.
As such - I have to totally agree with the sentiments here that in this video's incarnation drifting is silly. You constantly see the car-driver over-drifting to make sure he stays just behind the bike. The car swings way wide on corners while the bike cuts in close and barely drifts, etc.
While I thought it was neat to see the bike drift, this was a race in no way, shape or form. It was a promotional video for guys who evidently don't understand the fastest way to get around a racetrack.
If you want to drift - do it right on an obstacle course like Ken Block does, where you lose points and add time for hitting stuff. Drifting is figure skating compared to racing's speed skating. If you want to compete in it you need judges and points.
