I think the AI in 150cc and up is absolute bullshit, and it's totally soured me on this game.
MK64 rubberband and blueshell level bullshit? or worse?
It's a mix of pretty much getting coins a lot of the time for me in 1st-3rd places, the AI being very aggressive and better at taking turns compared to past difficulties, and getting ambushed multiple times by items. Darn you green shells!
I don't think MK64 rubber band AI is what's happening, though. Blue shells are also uncommon compared to past installments post Super Circuit.
Maybe it was like that since I was doing two-player, but there's really not much margin for error in this game. I was having so much fun with it, too. I just feel that it's still quite luck-based, and that's not fun for me.