Maria Costello MBE - some interesting facts

We've seen the official release about Maria's MBE, thoroughly deserved. Here's some interesting facts about ace rider Maria however that you may not know:

1. The former Veterinary nurse's passion with bikes began when she used a Yamaha TZR125 as her mode of transport. Being involved in an accident whilst travelling to work did nothing to deter the Northamptonshire based biker, in fact she used her compensation cheque from the accident to buy her first race bike, a Suzuki RGV250.



2. Winning races in her first year of competition was unexpected. Maria didn’t enjoy competition at school, choosing to slow down during her favourite P.E. class of cross country running so that she didn’t have to compete for her county.



3. In her first season of racing she was approached by Sandra Barnett (and her husband) to be part of an all female motorcycle team. Sandra Barnett was the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course. Bridget McManus, Sandra and Maria competed on short circuits and Bridget and Maria raced at the Manx Grand Prix for the first time in 1996.



4. In 2004 she became the fastest woman to lap the TT course (Padgetts Suzuki GSXR750 K2) and received a Guinness World Record for this achievement (this record was recently broken by Jenny Tinmouth at the 2009 TT races).



5. Maria then went on to make history when she became the first female solo rider to finish on the podium in a race around the TT course, finishing third in the Ultra Lightweight MGP class on a Honda RVF400.



6. Her achievements in racing have led to many varied opportunities off the track including being the focus of an hour long documentary for Anglia TV.



7. She was at the centre of the ‘Girl Racer’ TV series which was the spin off from another TV show about the TT called ‘TT Heroes’.



8. Presenting TV programmes such as ‘Fran’s Angels’ was another role she felt at home in as well as appearing as a panellist on ‘Top Ten Bikes’ and in the Discovery channels ‘Big Big Bikes’ program.



9. Highlights of her career away from the race track include stunt doubling for Tamsin Outhwaite in an ITV drama, and more recently in a movie called ‘Penelope’ for Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon.



10. Her career is far from over and despite many broken bones (over 22) the passionate motorcyclist Maria, or Elvis to her fans, wants nothing more than to regain the female TT lap record and pursue other personal goals in this extreme sport of motorcycle racing.



11. Maria works in many roles within the world of motorcycling and the media. Her titles include RideSafe BackSafe ambassador, ambassador for motorcycle clothing brand BERING and has been a patron for the Women’s Sport Foundation and one of Sport England’s Sporting Champions and in between all the racing she earns her living as a PR Agent.