This petite blonde is not your average biker, she holds the lap record as the fastest woman to race the Isle of Man TT course and she has a Guinness World Record for this achievement, she is also an ambassador for the RideSafe BackSafe initiative supporting safe riding on public roads. This new racing venture carries added excitement as this is the first time a woman has competed in real road racing on a British built Triumph 675. Maria will be competing on her Philip Youles Triumph Daytona 675 in the televised 2008 Triumph Triple Challenge series run at MRO race meetings across the UK. Maria will also compete in the main International Road Races in Ireland and on the Isle of Man TT course, on both her Triumph Daytona 675 and her existing BERING Honda RVF400. Costello will be aiming for yet another historic podium finish on her BERING Honda RVF400 this season. She took third place beating over 80 men in the Ultra Lightweight race in 2004, becoming the first female solo racer to ever stand on the podium in Isle of Man TT racing history, and intends on getting on the top step in 2008. She will also be aiming to improve on her existing Guinness World Record and lap even faster around the TT course, only this time on a British bike. "I feel very honoured to be the first racer Philip Youles has sponsored and I'm very excited about the backing that I am receiving from Triumph, I believe they are as excited as I am about having the TTs fastest woman onboard a Triumph. Its great to be on a British bike and along with my new found fitness and renewed determination I'm aiming for a great 2008" added Costello. "The opportunity to support Maria was one we didn't want to miss, shes not only a great ambassador for the sport but we believe in her ability and know that she can bring an added dimension to our marketing strategy. We are looking forward to working with such a professional and personable individual, we wish her every success for the forthcoming season" said Philip Youles, Managing Director of Philip Youles Motorcycles. Other support, without which Maria would not be able to race, comes from another Blackburn company CMS cars and commercials. Not only do they support Maria financially but they provide her with hands on support and a motor home for when she is competing away from home. The support I have received means a lot to me, racing is my life so its no surprise that many of my sponsors are now my friends added Costello. To find out more about this female pioneer in motorcycle racing you can check out her website www.costelloracing.comand sign up to receive her regular racing up-dates.
Philip Youles Motorcycles Pendle St Copy Nook Blackburn BB1 1NG
http://www.philipyoules.co.uk/
Provisional Calendar for the Triumph Triple Challenge: Donington 22-23 March Cadwell 26-27 April Brands GP 10-11 May Silverstone 24-25 May Cadwell 28-29 June Brands Indy 19-20 July Oulton 15-16 August Snetterton 13-14 September Brands Indy 27-28 September
For more information about the Championship visit: www.triumphtriplechallenge.com.
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