IMHO, the only prerequisite to racing is having good bike handling and group riding skills. If you haven't done any group rides, go out and do some. If you've done some group rides, find the local trianing rides where the fast guys train. Do a few of those rides till your comfortable, and then go race.
You'll get as much or more benefit doing the training rides, as you will going into a race cold and getting shelled, and you'll be much safer.