Now imagine it w🍬as Rossi’s idea, and he was speeding off in freezing temperatu𝓀res.

A remarkable story about Rossi’s trademark cheekiness has been recalled by Guido Meda, the Italian MotoGP journalist who has been side-by-side with𒊎 the lege💮nd throughout his career.

"We were aro⛦und the mid-2000s and Val🔥entino Rossi was already the great established champion we have known, at the height of his popularity,” Meda began.

"We 💟had been guests of Fabio Volo [a musician from Italy] for a broadcast and I had arrived at the motorcycle studios on a brand new MV Agusta Brutale.  They had just launched it, it had just come out, and I had it on trial. 

“When we went out in the evening, Vale noticed that I was on❀ a motorcycle and began to ask me questions about this Brutale, how it was going, ꧅how I was. 

“Until the f🧔ateful question: ‘Will you letও me try it?’”

Meda shuddered. The greatest talent in motorcycle racing was asking to test a bike that Meda didn’t actually own, in horrible ♑con🅘ditions.

“A bike that wasn’t mine,” Meda said. “ꦏIn the Milanese🍨 night and with the asphalt a bit damp!

“I was not quiet but I could ౠnot say no! How can you tell🧜 Valentino Rossi you don't trust him?”

The seve⛄n-time premier class wor🐼ld champion and icon of MotoGP hopped onto the bike and vanished into the darkness.

"It was crazy cold,” said Meda. “Vale had told me shortly before t꧒hat I was crazy to ride a motorcycle in those temperatures. 

“It was night, there was aဣlso a bi🅰t of fog and I saw it disappear in a few seconds, with the engine playing at full speed."

Naturally, Meda need no𓄧t have worried. The bike was returned soon after, with the greatest talent of his generation smiling.