Alex Marquez, who finished third in the MotoGP race in Argentina, says he is not bothered by his critics who have been skeptical about his abilities in the premier class.
The Repsol Honda rider, who won the Moto2 championship last year, has been under pressure to perform well in his rookie season in MotoGP. However, he has struggled to adapt to the powerful Honda RC213V bike, and his performances have been inconsistent.
But Marquez, who has been the subject of criticism from some sections of the media and fans, says he doesn't pay attention to his detractors.
"I don't really care about what people say," said Marquez in the post-race press conference. "Of course, I'm aware of the criticisms and the expectations, but I don't let them affect me."
Marquez, who started the race from 14th on the grid, put in a solid performance to secure his first podium finish in MotoGP. He says the result is a reward for the hard work put in by him and his team.
"It's been a difficult start to the season, but we've been working hard to improve and make progress," he said. "This podium is a great feeling and a motivation for us to keep pushing."
Marquez's brother Marc, who is a six-time MotoGP world champion, has been his biggest supporter throughout his career. The elder Marquez, who is currently recovering from an injury, congratulated his brother on his podium finish.
"I'm very happy for Alex, he deserves this result," said Marc in a social media post. "He has been working hard and improving every race. Keep pushing, bro!"
Marquez's next opportunity to impress will be at the MotoGP race in Austin, Texas, on April 16-18.