Valencia, Spain: Maverick Vinales became the Moto3 champion by winning the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday, edging runner-up Alex Rins after fellow challenger Luis Salom crashed.
Vinales and Rins changed places several times through the 24 laps around the 4-kilometer (2.48 mile) Cheste Circuit before Vinales finally gained the front before the final straight to the finish line.
Only three points separated points leader Salom, Vinales and Rins entering the decisive event.
But Salom's chances of winning the title evaporated when he fell on a curve with 10 laps to go while riding a close third behind Rins and Vinales.
Later, points leader Marc Marquez will start from pole ahead of Jorge Lorenzo in the decisive race to decide the MotoGP title.
