Just wanted to share a cool story about AP this weekend. My 7 year old son is a huge Plessinger fan and was bummed when I didn’t take him to the races this weekend due to 105 degree heat. I was walking the pits and noticed AP was signing autographs so I thought I’d get in line and see if I could get something signed for my son. Right towards the end of the line he runs out of posters, so I ask “hey, I don’t need anything signed but will you FaceTime my son real quick?”. AP instantly said yes and then proceeded to have probably a minute long conversation over FaceTime with my kid. He has made a life long impression on him and lifelong fans out of my entire family.
Just wanted to share a positive story and hope somebody reads this that can pass along to AP how much it meant to my son to get to talk to him. 
Also, I don’t think many other guys were doing autographs or anything and there he was just chilling in the 100 degree heat before the motos for the fans.
AP FaceTimed your boy?! Thats absolutely incredible. Aaron is the man! Kinda off topic but I caught Weege running into Aaron's dad, Scott, in the pits after the race. Dude lost fingers in a GNCC accident clearing a giant rock from the course. He was like, yeah no big deal. What a beast
Haha that's cool, he will probably never forget that!
By the end of the broadcast (most probably turned their stream off by that point), AP was ready to leave the podium and someone in the crowd yelled at him to have a sip of beer, AP declined and said: "I'll probably throw up if I do that now", then he went back, turned around again, saw a kid in a crowd and gave him a fist bump and his goggles.
He was completely cooked and everyone else was already gone at this point I think. Such a rad dude honestly.
AP7 is someone who gets it. A memory your son will never forget.
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Hard not to like that dude!
Picture added for proof, my wife was able to screen record the whole thing
Hats off to AP for selflessly taking the time for him! I’m sure your boy wasn’t too disappointed about missing the race after that.
The broadcast did in fact show that moment exactly as you stated. AP is a fan favorite 🤠
Nice to see a rider appreciating the fans, instead of using them as another profit activity....
Off AP topic , ( he is one our favs) but back in 2010 I took my two kids to A1. We were waiting in line to gets JS autograph and I dont think we would have made it up to him before he had to get out for practice.
Anyways, we heard a faint voice behind us. We look over and it was Mike Alessi. He calmly said to my kids (5 and 7) “ I can give you kids an autograph”. He was very friendly and then gave each of my kids some other items as well.
That made up for the $12 bottles of water and the $18 beer(s). 😬😎
What a great story!!! AP7 is the real deal.
Ap absolutely ran in front of Eli and Jett for almost the entire moto. Never saw that happening heads up. Was soo bummed when I saw him get passed but very commendable.
Mike and his family get a lot of heat, but they’re core moto all the way and some hard ass workers. Mike definitely seemed to appreciate and take time out for the fans more towards the end.
AP is on the gas this season big time!! So good!
Wanted to add to that experience, his semi was backed up to Stewarts and he couldnt help but notice the longline for JS.
it ended up being a funny interaction and my kids will never forget it. He asked my 5 year old if he raced and my son thought Mike was asking him if he was racing there that night. My son told him didnt bring his bike down to Cailfornia so he wasnt able to. 🤷🏻♂️😊 I have some pics somewhere of this interaction.
He made some new fans that day.
And yes they did get some heat. Believe the hype. Not Mikes fault. But to defend Mike on his first pro race, which was at our home track of Millville, he did I believe hole shotted first moto and was leading maybe near the half way point until he settlwd into the top 3-5. He did run out of gas in that moto. I dont remember what happened in the second moto but if you werent in attendance and just read the results online, one may have thought he was overhyped and didnt represent. I dont recall a kid entering his first pro race in the Big Boy class and leading for half of it. Didnt RJ or Lechien do it in SX?
That kid (Alessi) was hauling the mail that weekend.
Godspeed to his brother! Also hope Mike is heals up from Daytona crash this past March. Would be nice to see him at one of the races in the future, walking around and maybe help Prado on some starts. Jk 😎😬
That being said, he could teach a lot of top guys out with starts.
I get the feeling AP knows he is very blessed and fortunate to be in the position he's in so he gives it back to the fans to show he's thankful. Good dude.
Edit: Nice OP. I was raised in Bend, OR. Moving back to Central Oregon in the Fall.
I used to think the "Cowboy" deal was a little cheesy, but I give props to AP for building his own brand. He's really upped his game the last couple of years, and KTM did good by resigning him for 2026. He is a huge asset to the team! On top of all that, he seems like he's a genuinely good dude too...which is sometimes hard to come by in professional sports.
He's going to make Ian and Roger say "Chase who?" !
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Whenever the perceived BS gets to be too much fellas, just remember what it was like to be as pumped as that little guy! We were all there at some point whether a little guy or any age for that matter!
Yeah, I think its fair to say his first few years on the 450 were less then stellar... He's stepped it up. Not to get away from AP, but JCoop has also stepped it up. And frankly, RJ looks like he has the potential to also. Nice to see these guys getting after it.
There is still hope for humanity. AP is proof of it.
I was going to start a thread talking about how impressed I was on his first moto beating Jett at Hangtown (along with Eli). And here he goes being even more awesome.
And Alessi podiumed with RC and Windham in his second-ever pro race the next weekend at Steel City. The "Believe the Hype" stuff really detracted from what was a solid debut.
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