Maria Costello

Maria Costello MBE (born 9 June 1973, Northampton, England) is a British motorcycle racer who held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course at an average speed of 114.73mph until Jenny Tinmouth took the record at the 2009 TT.

Costello was the first woman (solo racer) in the history of the Isle of Man motorcycle races to stand on the podium (RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400 - MGP 2005). Her success as a female motorcycle racer and success on the track has attracted attention from the media and the motorsport industry.

Costello made history at the 2005 Manx Grand Prix when she took third place in the Ultra Lightweight category of the 2005. On board an RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400, provided by Tim Bradley, Maria became the first ever woman to take a podium finish in either a TT or Manx GP.

In her debut appearance at the North West 200 Irish Road Race Maria came third in the 400cc class onboard the RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400, placing her 7th overall, in the joint 125cc/400cc race. She also raced in both 600cc classes on her Bering Honda CBR600RR.

In 2004 at the Isle of Man TT races Maria achieved a Guinness World Record by becoming the fastest woman to lap the course at an average speed of 114.73mph. She also finished 8th in the Senior race of the Manx Grand Prix (collecting a Silver replica award) out of over 80 competitors (male).

Overall, Costello has won a total of eight Manx Grand Prix Silver Replicas and one TT Bronze Replica. These are special trophies given only to those who finish within a percentage of the winner’s time. In 2005 she said that her ambition for 2006 was to win the North West 200 400cc class, to win the Manx Grand Prix Ultra Lightweight race and to compete at Macau.

Journalism

Costello has been contributing to the motorcycle press as a freelance journalist since her career in motorcycle racing began in 1995. Initially it was her race press releases that were published in the local newspapers but her ability on the racetrack led to an invitation to join both Motorcycle News (MCN) and Performance Bikes on road tests. After many road tests she had the chance to write for MCN. She is now a regular contributor to the Used Bike Guide as well as freelancing for publications such as Irish Racer Magazine and Motorcycle Racer.

Film/TV career

Costello has appeared in several television programmes including an Anglia TV documentary on to her return to the TT races in 2002 and she was one of a few included on TT Heroes, which followed competitors during the TT in 2003. Recently Costello was a presenter on the motorcycle show Fran's Angels. She has also been a panellist on Top Ten Bikes. She has also worked as a stunt double. She doubled for Tamzin Outhwaite in a ITV drama Walk Away and I Stumble, on a mountain bike. Maria was the rider-double for Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon and worked alongside the lead role played by Christina Ricci. This amazing opportunity lead to Maria working with a professional team of stunt co-ordinators and she experienced first hand being caught on camera by the paparazzi.

The Discovery Channel's, Big Big Bikes program, featured Maria racing a Honda Fireblade (1000cc) motorbike against a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This programme, in the UK alone, was seen by a million viewers, and the global release in 2006 reached audience fi gures of between 10 – 20 million.

Charity and sports promotion work

• Costello is a patron of Riders for Health and a supporter of MENCAP.

• As a "Sporting Champion" she visits schools and communities to encourage young people to take part in sport. In this capacity she has helped promote various sporting events, particularly in the East Midlands as part of backing the 2012 Olympics bid. She was one of the athletes invited to promote the 2005 Tour of Britain cycle race and gave a speech during the launch of the East Midlands route at Loughborough University.

• She is also a role model for the Auto Cycle Union, the governing body for two-wheeled motorsport. She is also a patron for the Women's Sport Foundation an organisation trying to bring equality to women's sport. Costello attended the BBC Sport Summit at BBC TV Centre in London, a day aimed at generating debate about the future of sport in the UK.

Awards

• Costello won the BBC Northampton Sports Personality of the Year 2005
• She was nominated for the East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year Award 2005
• She has also won the Manx Motor Cycle Club - Lesley Ann Trophy. Awarded for the best performance by a female racer at the Manx GP on three occasions, 2002, 2004 and 2005. She has also received, as well as the EMRA - Outstanding Achievement Award won in 2002 and 2004, the Best Lady Award in 1995.
• Costello was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.^[1]

Footnotes

1. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59090. p. 15. 13 June 2009.

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Name	Costello, Maria
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Date of birth	1977
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