Maverick Vinales makes MotoGP history the hard way in Grand Prix of Americas, SA's Brad Binder 9th

Maverick Vinales overcame a horror start from pole on his Aprilia to claw his way back and win the Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP in Texas on Sunday.

Exciting teenaged rookie Pedro Acosta took second with Enea Bastianini completing the podium of the third race weekend of the season.

South Africa's Brad Binder finished ninth. Binder started from a lowly 17th position after a crash in qualifying on Saturday.

Vinales, who had dropped back to 11th after a disastrous run from pole to the first corner, wrote his name into motorcycling history as the first rider to win a MotoGP race with three different teams - Suzuki, Yamaha, and now Aprilia.

"Thank you guys, I was feeling everyone pushing me, here in America," Vinales told the fans at the circuit in downtown Austin.

"History made, thank you America, I'm super happy. We need to keep working, the pace was amazing."

Grand Prix of the Americas results on Sunday:

1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 41:09.503, 2. Pedro Acosta (ESP/GasGaS-Tech3) at 1.728, 3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati) 2.703, 4. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 4.690, 5. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 7.392, 6. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 9.980, 7. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 12.208, 8. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 13.343, 9. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 14.931, 10. Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 16.656, 11. Miguel Oliveira (POR/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 18.542, 12. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 22.899, 13. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 24.11, 14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP/GasGaS-Tech3) 27.652, 15. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 32.855, 16. Luca Marini (ITA/Honda) 33.529

Did not finish: Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda-LCR), Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR), Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati-Pramac), Joan Mir (ESP/Honda),