Maria Costello
Encyclopedia
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.
(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.
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.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 9 June 1973, Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
motorcycle racer who held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
course at an average speed of 114.73mph until Jenny Tinmouth
Jenny Tinmouth
Jennifer Rosanne Tinmouth is an English motorcycle racer, currently competing in the 2011 British Superbike Championship, the first woman to ever do so, and the fastest woman ever to go around the Isle of Man TT course....
took the record at the 2009 TT.
Costello was the first woman (solo racer) in the history of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
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
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
when she took third place in the Ultra Lightweight category of the 2005. On board an RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400
Honda RVF400
The Honda RVF400R is a motorcycle introduced by Honda Motor Company in 1994, powered by a V4 16 valve double overhead geardriven cam 400 cc engine and known for its supreme handling capabilities. There were two models, the R and the T, which differed only in their paint schemes...
, 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
North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
Irish Road Race Maria came third in the 400cc class onboard the RLR Motorsports Honda RVF400
Honda RVF400
The Honda RVF400R is a motorcycle introduced by Honda Motor Company in 1994, powered by a V4 16 valve double overhead geardriven cam 400 cc engine and known for its supreme handling capabilities. There were two models, the R and the T, which differed only in their paint schemes...
, 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
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
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
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
(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 NewsMotorcycle News
MCN or Motor Cycle News is a weekly motorcycling newspaper published by Bauer Consumer Media, and based in Peterborough, United Kingdom. The title was founded by Cyril Quantrill in 1955 and bought by EMAP, before Bauer bought Emap's consumer media division in 2008...
(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 televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
. She doubled for Tamzin Outhwaite
Tamzin Outhwaite
Tamzin Maria Outhwaite is an award-winning English actress. She became known for her role as Melanie Owen in the British soap opera EastEnders, whom she portrayed from 1998 until 2002.-Early career:...
in a ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama Walk Away and I Stumble, on a mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
. Maria was the rider-double for Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
and worked alongside the lead role
played by Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci is an American actress. Ricci received initial recognition and praise as a child star for her performance as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values , and her role as Kat Harvey in Casper...
. 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
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, 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 HealthRiders for HealthRiders for Health is an international non-profit organisation that provides health-care to rural African villages using motorcycles and motorcycle ambulances. By providing healthcare door-to-door, the organisation is hoping to help fight the spread of AIDS...
and a supporter of MENCAPMencapThe Royal Mencap Society is a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability.-Profile:Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers...
.
- 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 MidlandsEast MidlandsThe East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
as part of backing the 2012 Olympics bid. She was one of the athletes invited to promote the 2005 Tour of BritainTour of BritainThe Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....
cycle race and gave a speech during the launch of the East Midlands route at Loughborough UniversityLoughborough UniversityLoughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
.
- 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 BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Sport Summit at BBC TV Centre in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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.