Costello 'humbled' by MBE honour
Maria Costello says she is ‘humbled’ by being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
The Spratton racer has been made an MBE for services to motorcycling.
News the 31-year-old was being given the honour by the Queen broke during the 2009 Isle of Man TT, while Maria was busy working in the TT Press Office writing reports on the races for Pirelli.
She said:
‘I am so humbled by this honour. It's amazing to receive it for services to motorcycling. Motorbikes have been my life and I feel like this award gives something back not only to me but to all those involved in motorcycling.’
‘It’s great recognition for the sport too, I hope we see more females on motorbikes and in racing. I can't thank all those who have helped and supported me enough. My family are so proud and even my Mum, who wasn't so keen on me starting racing is fully behind me for this years Manx Grand Prix.’
‘I’m reinvigorated by the MBE, although I won’t believe it until I meet The Queen, I can't wait to get back on the TT course and put the VRS Performance Kawasaki 600 and my Honda RVF400 through their paces.’
Maria held the record for fastest woman around the TT course until this year, when TT newcomer Jenny Tinmouth set a new standard.
Confirmation of the MBE came on June 12, Senior Race Day, and it was only then Maria could truly believe it was happening.
‘I tried to forget about it in case it was a wind up. It was when I got a message on Facebook from Keith Jackson (The Sun newspaper journalist) saying “Believe it! You’re getting an MBE”, that it started to sink in.’
‘I wanted to chat with someone about it, but the press office was almost empty. I did ask the TT press officer Simon Crellin if he knew anything about MBEs and he suggested I Google it. So I kept it pretty much to myself, I rang my Mum and sister (my Dad already knew) and told my friends and we shared a bottle of Champagne in Colours.’
The 2005 BBC Northampton Sports Personality of the year will be invited to an investiture organised by the Central Chancery of the Orders of the Knighthood in St James’s Palace, where she will be presented with her MBE by The Queen. This is due to take place within the next six months.
In the meantime, Maria’s is due to compete in the 4 Hours of Spa Classic in Belgium on an Offenstadt-framed Kawasaki Z900, one from a collection owned by Chris Wilson, alongside bike racing legend Mike Edwards.