The long winter of testing and preparation is finally over for the MotoGP riders, as the entire 2007 World Championship grid today arrived at the Losail International Circuit for the season-opening Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar. Although they still have to wait until tomorrow for the on-track action to begin, there were still some pending matters and activities taking place in the paddock today. Chief amongst them was the traditional scrutineering session which required the verification of every detail on each of the 800cc MotoGP bikes, as well as the 250cc and 125cc bikes. In what has become something of a regular feature of a visit to Qatar, riders from all three classes took in some of the local culture at a nearby location. Alex Barros, Marco Melandri, Alvaro Bautista, Tomoyoshi Koyama and rookie Thai 250 rider Ratthapark Wilairot sampled camel-riding, national music and henna painting close to the circuit, before returning to the track for the official MotoGP photo sessions. All riders from the MotoGP class also attended a briefing headed by Race Direction in the early afternoon, where they were given the lowdown on some of the new regulations coming into play this season. Aside from the new technical regulations such as the reduction engine size and fuel capacity, the main subjects raised were the change in schedule and the allowance of a specially designated time for practicing starts at the end of the first session. The first press conference of the year was attended by reigning World Champion Nicky Hayden, alongside four rivals who will be going all out to wrestle the title from him in 2007. Valentino Rossi – winner in Qatar for the past two seasons – last year’s pole-setter Casey Stoner, John Hopkins and Randy de Puniet all answered various questions put to them by the press, speaking about their new teams, deals, sponsors, injuries and seasons. Practice for the Commercialbank Grand Prix Of Qatar begins tomorrow from 9am local time (GMT+3) Nicky Hayden – Repsol Honda Team “Testing is one thing, but racing is always going to be the only way to know where you are really at. We need to improve in some areas definitely, and there are a lot of guys who are coming into this season fast and motivated. The new regulations are in place, but the racing remains simple: if you ride round the fastest then you win.”