Maria Costello

MaRia COSTellO Trail Blazer

Motorcycle Rider managed to catch up with Maria just before she was due to head off for the TT

Maria Costello MBE needs no introduction, so we’ll keep this paragraph brief, but Britain’s best-known (and arguably most successful) female motorcycle racer of modern times has achieved an awful lot. In a career spanning 26 years (and counting, because she’s not finished yet), she was the fastest woman around the TT course for five years, has raced all over the world and is a tireless campaigner to encourage women in bike racing. As we went to press, she was about to head off to the Island to contest the Supertwins race and attempt the fastest female sidecar lap record.

n Some racers have a family background in racing – did you? I didn’t have a family background in biking, so it was just me. In fact, my first powered two-wheeler was just transport to get me to work, training to be a veterinary nurse. I bought a Honda Melody, which was lethal! Then I got a TZR 125, my first bike. My parents weren’t into it at all, and when I started racing it was hard – I was about 19 and had a different attitude. I was a girl in a man’s world and thought I had a point to prove, but that didn’t do me any harm; it fuelled my fire. n How did you get into racing? I got knocked off the TZR on the way to work by a car driver with dodgy eyesight, and the compensation money bought my first race bike, an RGV 250. I hadn't really thought about racing when I was young, and as I say motorcycling wasn’t in the family, so in a way I came to it quite late.

n Were any other women racing then? There were some, notably Sandra Barnett, so there were the odd one or two. When I saw Sandra racing it flicked a switch inside me which said ‘Yeah, I can do this.’ I think things have improved for female riders because they are getting more opportunities.

n Obvious question – why road racing? I just love road racing, the atmosphere, the people. Actually it’s not the crowds while you’re racing. People say did you see the crowds on the North West, and I didn’t because at the time I was concentrating on riding.

n Road racing or short circuits? Road racing, it's just better! I started on short circuits but I've spent most of my career on road racing, ridden all of the Irish road events and had lots of success at the Isle of Man. Racing at the TT means the world to me and the North West 200 is another highlight.

n Are you naturally motivated in all areas of life? My life is mainly bike racing, but yes I'm a pretty active person and like keeping fit, which is handy because it's so important for racing. I've got a beautiful Saracen mountain bike, love being outside – mountain biking, paddle boarding and walking.

I don’t really have weekends or a set routine – one minute I’m out testing in Spain, the next minute I’m at home doing the housework – but there are elements that are consistent. My coach, Tom Loasby, is brilliant. I can’t ride as much as I want to because track days are expensive, so physical fitness is important. Mental fitness is important too. After I really hurt myself at the TT, my hypnotherapist helped me get my mojo back, working on how to focus and on self-belief.

n Women-only track days – how did they start? I was getting a lot of messages on social media from ladies looking to ride with me on track. I really got the impression that there was a place for these track days, and having done them I know that there is. I had a big range – from complete beginners those looking to race. I think the key thing is that there are options for women now in motorcycling.

n Will there be more? It’s hard to make them happen because the cost of hiring a circuit in the UK is so expensive, especially compared to other countries. There are only two track day companies in Britain now, and I think that speaks volumes – there used to be loads. The pandemic hasn’t helped of course and we haven’t held one of these days for three years, but I would love to run one again.

n You run your own team now

– what’s that like?

Well you have to do everything. From emails, phone calls, ordering parts, planning entries, driving the truck, loading the truck... Actually racing is just the last bit! I have to be completely self-motivated to run my team, get sponsorship and find the money to live, which involves lots of boring things like telephone calls, emails and writing proposals. n You now race sidecars as well? Yes, I started that a few years ago, raced at the TT in 2019 and started a couple of years before that. I think sidecars are amazing. Vicky Cook is my passenger this year and we were developing the relationship in 2021, building up to the TT this year. We’re going for the female sidecar lap record, currently 110mph.

n You've ridden singles, twins, triples and fours – which do you

prefer?

I've been very fortunate in the variety of bikes I've been able to race, sometimes riding 12 different bikes in a season. I love the differences between them, and who doesn't love a bike with lots of character? The twins and triples are especially good fun. I really like the classic Paton, which I've raced before, while the modern one uses a Kawasaki ER-6 engine, so it's very similar to my Supertwin Kawasaki.

n And you’re presenting at the TT this year? I’ve been doing a bit of presenting on and off throughout my career and this year I’m part of the presenting team at the TT. I enjoy it and would like to do more. The presenting work has been more towards the latter end of my career. It’s a tough old game you know, difficult to make a living at. I say I’m a professional racer but I still have to earn money to live, hence the riding for Triumph and other things.

n And the future? Oh, my life is bike racing and I’ll carry on for the foreseeable future. The best thing I ever did was get on a motorbike and I’m fortunate that I’ve made a career out of it that’s lasted over 26 years. With additional information from Hagerty Insurance. Page 16 photos: Stephen Davison and IOM Newspapers

Not many riders have contested both solo and sidecar races in the same TT Photo: Steve Babb)