In stark contrast to Malaysia there were chilly temperatures on Thursday morning at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, ahead of the Gran Premio Parts Europe de la Comunitat Valenciana weekend, the eighteenth and final race of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. Just four days ago the participants in the penultimate round of the season were sweating in temperatures upwards of 30°C at Sepang, but on their return to Europe following their American and Australasian adventures autumn has certainly arrived in Spain, with grey skies and cool conditions early on Thursday in Valencia. The day’s main activities centred around the Riders for Health (Motos Solidarias) Day of Champions which included a fans ride-in, a James Toseland concert on a Yamaha piano provided by Yamaha Musica Iberica, a meet and greet session with the MotoGP riders, autograph sessions and an auction. The last official pre-event press conference of the year took place in the Valencia media centre at 4pm local time with the 2008 World Champion Valentino Rossi lining up next to compatriot Andrea Dovizioso and home riders Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Toni Elias. Fiat Yamaha’s title-winning star Rossi commented, ‘Obviously it is a challenge coming straight here from Malaysia in such a short space of time. Also the conditions will be very different here and the Valencia track is a big contrast to Sepang. But in some ways it is good to have another race so quickly after the Malaysian GP at this stage of the season, so that we can stay focused and motivated to finish the year in a positive way. I am looking forward to testing the ’09 Yamaha M1 next week, even though it means I can’t party too hard on Sunday night!’