After years of fruitless stalking, my dream finally came true. Saturday Night. A hotel in Monterey. Valentino Rossi. and Me…. It was awesome.

The only regret I have is that I was too starstruck to shamelessly throw myself at him and say “Where ya goin’?…Can I come?” I gotta let him come down off that Deity pedestal so I can relate to him like any other man. But it’s hard. I’ve been worshipping him for so long, and he’s been so out of reach, it’s like the minute I’m face to face all I can do is rush to get my picture taken with him. I had no problem chatting with his team like we were old friends, but around Vale I turn into a starstruck little kid.