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| Date
of Birth
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9th
June 1977 |
Home
Town |
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Spratton, Northampton |
Height |
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5
foot 5 inches |
Racing
Debut |
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1995, New Era at Mallory
Park on an RGV250 |
Best
finish |
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Winning at Mallory
and 15th at Manx GP |
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5th July 2004
I'm still on cloud nine after an awesome TT.
From my position, with no race bikes at one point
and then a broken collar bone so close to the
event, the results were fantastic! I think that
when I went up to get my Bronze replica for the
Production 600 race and the entire crowd cheered,
that just about summed up the TT for me, it was
a special time and the support I received from
my family, friends, colleagues, sponsors, team
members, fans, spectators and complete strangers
was superb, I think all of their support carried
me throughout the fortnight and I want to say
thank you to all them! I feel that by getting
the record has in some way repaid them and there
is more to come!
I've wanted that record for a while now, I knew
I had to build up to it, over a couple of years,
but at the beginning of this year I knew I could
do it, then when everything went pear shaped I
had to dig deep to keep myself going. Now all
that feels so behind me. I've secured an ambition
as the fastest woman, and now I'm working on my
next goals.
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23rd
May - 13th Jun |
IoM
TT |
Senior TT :
41
Production 1000 : 31
Production 600 : 28 |
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Maria Costello is the fastest, highest profile
female racer in the UK with bigger balls than
many of her male competitors. She has acheived
her goal in June 2004 of being the fastest woman
round the Isle of Man TT course, after many obstables
had made that seem more of a dream than a possibility. |
NW200 - was this out because of your broken colour bone?
Yep, next year eh?
What happened to you racing the Superstocks this year?
My team pulled out days before 1st round. See
my diary and news pages.
Have you done any other races this year?
An EMRA meeting at Mallory, 2nd in 1000cc class.
How long have you been biking?
Since 1994, I started on a scooter as a mode
of transport to get to work, when I was training as
a veterinary nurse.
What inspired you to start racing?
I fancied a lad who had a TZR125, so I got one.
Then I got knocked off it by a doddery old chap with
dodgy vision and with the compensation money I bought
a race bike (very condensed story).
Do you have a regular team or occasional helpers? Who?
This year I rode for Island Motorcycles Ltd,
they were a fantastic group of people, who I had a good
feeling about just through the phone calls we had, thankfully
my instincts were spot on because I didn't meet them
until I went over to the IoM for the TT. They consisted
of Jez and Jane Hill, Dean Martin, who made the initial
contact, Tim & Andy, spot on mechanics and great
at keeping me smiling and Phil, who added curtains to
the van so that I could get changed in privacy - giggle.
They're based on the IoM and are opening a bike shop
there during the Manx GP fortnight, when I will be again
riding their Honda CBR600RR (yippee). For more details
contact: 07624 413005 I also raced a Padgett's of Batley
GSXR750 K2 at this years TT, which is the bike I secured
the record on! It was a last minute deal and how glad
am I now, that I decided to run it!
Who are your sponsors?
Sponsors for 2004: JAP/Island Motorcycles, Agip
Oil, WP Suspension, Goodridge UK, EBC Brakes, Metzeler,
NGK Spark Plugs, Abbastands, Scott Leathers,
Dread Clothing, www.leonlife.com, Daytona Boots, Bering,
The Image Works, Custard Creative, Barry Goudriaan -
Physiotherapist, David Sutton Personal Trainer, Christophe
Becquereau - Osteopath, Fitness First Health Clubs,
Aspect Maintenance Services, ONFIRE, Supabikes Cycle
Shop & Guy Martin Engine Tuning.
What are your plans after this season?
To continue with my fitness training and look
forward to the 2005 season and get back on short circuits
as well as road racing. During the winter months I've
been invited to quite a few events and functions where
I'll be giving talks and making appearances.
You've stated your 2004 aims as: Fastest Woman around
the TT course, race at the NW200 and Macau. What are
your ambitions now you've achieved the 1st one of these?
For the reminder of 2004, a podium at the Manx GP would
be nice, race at the Gold Cup at Scarborough, Leipzig
and it would be great to get to race at Macau. Next
year I'd like to do Daytona too! And get back on short
circuits! Plus the NW200, TT, Manx GP, Ulster and Scarborough
and anything for that matter!
Who are your mentors and who
do you look up to in racing?
John McGuinness, Guy Martin and myself, it all comes
from within you know. Obviously.
What do you do in your spare
time?
The usual catching up with racing and non racing
friends, keeping my website
up-dated. Lots of cycling and training (of course),
I'm just getting back in to horse riding and swimming,
when my collar bone, or rather my physio, allows
me too!
Who's your favourite racing
hunk?
Ummm, now this could be revealing, Ben Bostrom is an
old favourite of mine....ummmm
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