Triumph over adversity for Maria at the TT

Maria Costello MBE brought home the Bob Wylie Racing Triumph 675R in 49th place today in the Monster Energy TT Supersport 1 race around the daunting 37.73 mile Isle of Man TT circuit. She made it to the finish line after three difficult laps, despite having to deal with an ill handling bike due to a broken steering damper and a seat unit which had detached itself from the bike on lap three. 

Maria, who envisaged a very different start to the 2013 TT Races had already faced huge disappointment after having to park the QBSD Honda Fireblade due to suspension and electrical issues and was thankfully uninjured after a spill on the Bob Wylie Racing Triumph 675R at Braddon Bridge during Thursday evening’s practice.

Without being able to race the Fireblade in the 6 lap Dainese Superbike race on Sunday, Maria took to the start line aboard the Bob Wylie Racing Triumph on Monday morning for the first Supersport event, but good luck continued to elude the Northamptonshire based racer when the steering damper stopped working at the end of lap one and then at the start of lap three she realised nothing was holding the seat unit in place other than her backside.

These issues required some conservative riding but Maria doggedly continued. The waves from the crowd and the encouragement of her pit crew [Simon, Emilie and Kev], along with the amazing generosity of Terri Mayne, who had loaned a part off her brand new Triumph to enable Maria to even start the race, was enough impetus to see Maria complete the four laps, albeit in a lowly position.

“Despite all the issues I wasn’t going to park it. I just had to ride around them as all my team, my sponsors, supporters and spectators deserved a finish, especially after the tremendous efforts made to get the bike to the grid in the first place. A TT finish is a TT finish!” commented a determined Costello after the race.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the Triumph and to the Lightweight race and I’ll be flying the flag for Cranfield University, the FIM Women in Motorcycling commission and CoppaFeel! In the remaining races!” added Maria.

Maria will next take to the TT circuit on the Bob Wylie Triumph in Wednesday’s Monster Energy Supersport race 2, before firing up her ESM/Hol-Taj backed Kawasaki ER6 Supertwin ‘Pizza Race Bike’ in readiness for the Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight race on Friday.

For all the latest news and updates on Maria’s progress, including details of how to join Maria’s ‘Entourage’, please go to www.costelloracing.com and for more information about any of Maria’s sponsors please go to: http://www.costelloracing.com/sponsors.html

Image of Maria onboard the Bob Wylie Triumph 675R as she rounds Creg-Ny-Baa in the Monster Energy TT Supersport 1 race by Matt Mackey