Maria Costello MBE 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 114.73 mph, and became the first woman in the TT Riders Association’s 67-year history to serve as president.

EARLY YEARS

Born on June 9, 1973, in Northampton, England, Maria Costello grew up in the village of Spratton in Northamptonshire. She attended Guilsborough County School, where she loved cross-country running and was chosen to run for the county—though she deliberately kept her times slow. After earning nine GCSEs, she skipped A-levels and went straight to veterinary nursing college, landing work as a trainee veterinary nurse at a practice in Northampton. Her parents weren’t into motorcycles at all and were never going to help her buy a bike, so when she needed transport to get from home in the countryside to work, she took her motorcycle test purely as a means of getting from A to B. That practical decision would change everything.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond racing, Costello has been a freelance journalist contributing to the motorcycle press since her racing career began in 1995. She suffers massively with migraines but has learned to train, work, coach, and even race with them because she has to. When she’s not on a bike, she enjoys movies, paddle boarding, mountain biking, cycling, horse riding, and swimming. She can’t bear just sitting still for long—the “TT blues” inevitably kick in, and she gets going again. She’s also the author of her autobiography, “Maria Costello: Queen of the Bikers,” which chronicles her life dedicated to racing and the personal drive that led her to overcome insecurities and smash records.

EARLY SUCCESS

Costello began racing in 1995, wanting desperately to prove she could race with the best of them. She won at Mallory Park that same year, marking an impressive debut. She took an excellent seventh position in the 400cc class in her first race at the North West 200, posting a total time of 28:43.35. Racing on a Suzuki RGV250—a bike she still considers “the one that got away”—she quickly made her mark in a sport dominated by men. Despite breaking 24 bones over her career, including suffering her worst injuries at the Manx Grand Prix with a broken collarbone requiring a bone graft and metal plate, she never looked back. It was, she insists, still the best thing she ever did.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2004: Set a Guinness World Record by becoming the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT’s Snaefell mountain course at an average speed of 114.73 mph.
• 2005: Became the first woman rider of a solo machine to take a podium finish in either a TT race or Manx GP, riding a Honda RVF400 to a dramatic third place in the 350cc Motorsports Merchandise race at the Manx Grand Prix.
• 2009: Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours.
• 2018: Became the first woman to be named president of the TT Riders Association in the organization’s 67-year history.
• 2019: Made history by becoming the first female competitor to compete in both the Sidecar and Lightweight TT Races on the same day at the Isle of Man TT.
• Career: Raced at the Isle of Man TT six times between 2002-2017, with 37 starts on both two and three wheels across 17 appearances.
• Career: Set a new female lap record at the 7.4-mile Dundrod circuit at Ulster with a 116.790 mph performance.

INSPIRATIONS

What motivated Costello—and still does today—was simply getting onto a bike and proving she could race with the best of them. She had a point to prove in a male-dominated sport, and that fierce determination has driven every lap, every record, every comeback from injury. When she held women-only track days, there was quite a lot of negativity, mainly from men who asked why it was necessary. Her answer was clear: creating space for women to develop skills and confidence without intimidation matters. She’s fiercely protective of opportunities for women in motorcycling, refusing to apologize for carving out pathways others said weren’t needed.

REPUTATION

Costello is one of the most instantly recognizable faces in British motorsport—blonde, petite, pretty, and bubbly, she’s the opposite of most people’s mental image of a TT racer, and she’s used that contrast to her advantage. Her experience as a rider provides the perfect balance to her work as a mentor and manager. She joined FHO Racing in a coaching role to help support up-and-coming female racers, serving as both manager and mentor—a role she relishes. She’s also a former IAM Ambassador and a member of the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclist (FIM) Women in Motorcycling Commission. Her message to aspiring racers is simple: “Just do it, it was the best thing I ever did and although I’ve broken 24 bones, it’s still the best!” She believes there is a path to a career in motorcycle racing for women, and she’s dedicated to showing them the way.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

In 2025, Costello will make her 17th appearance at the Isle of Man TT Races and her 37th start on both two and three wheels. She’s formed an all-female sidecar line-up for the 2025 Sidecar races with passenger Julie Smith, and is also set to contest the Supertwin class. She’s delighted to have Galgorm Resort on board as title sponsor for both disciplines. The all-female sidecar team represents yet another barrier broken, another record in the making, and another generation of women watching a trailblazer refuse to slow down.

REFERENCES

Maria Costello, record-setting motorcycle racer who had a point to prove – Hagerty UK
INTERVIEW: Trailblazer Maria Costello on the Hill, aspirations, and the next generation – Goodwood
Maria Costello – Wikipedia
Maria Costello – Motorsport Biographies – iMuseum
Maria Costello: “There is a path to a career in motorcycle racing for women” – The Pit Crew Online
Maria Costello Interview | Classic TT 2019 – Bennetts Insurance
Maria Costello – Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia
The One That Got Away: Maria Costello and her Suzuki RGV250 – Hagerty UK
Costello and Smith Make New All-Female Sidecar Team for TT 2025 – Cycle News
Costello Makes History At TT 2019 – Isle of Man TT Races
Maria Costello fastest woman at Ulster – Horsepower & Heels
Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Maria Costello – The Independent
Costello joins FHO Racing in coaching role – BikeSport News
Maria Costello – WomenInRacing.org
Maria Costello: Queen of the Bikers – Goodreads
Costello And Smith Make New All-Female Sidecar Team for TT 2025 – Isle of Man TT Races
Maria Costello MBE | Panelist – Loudspeaker Talent Agency
Knox Sponsored Rider: Maria Costello – Knox