MARIA COSTELLO AWARDED MBE FOR SERVICES TO MOTORCYCLING

Maria Costello, the motorcycle racer from Spratton, has received an MBE for services to motorcycling in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Almost a month ago Maria received a letter informing her that her name would be submitted to The Queen with a recommendation that Her Majesty may appoint her as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours List. The 31 year­old, former fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course was working at the TT races when The Queens Birthday Honours list was published on the 12 th June.

Maria Costello comments, "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. Its 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 . 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."

Writing race reports for the iconic tyre manufacturer Pirelli at this years TT races, Maria was in the press office on the Isle of Man when the news broke. She was still unsure as to the authenticity of the award and therefore told only her close family and the friends, she was out with that night, of her exciting news.

Costello commented, 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 MBE s 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."

Maria is a determined woman who has gone against gender stereotyping in many areas of her life forging a path in the male dominated world of motorcycling. She has overcome injuries and become a role model in motorsport. The 2005 BBC 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 stacked schedule sees her compete in Belgium at the weekend in the 4 Hours of Spa Classic. She is riding a very special Offenstadt framed Kawasaki Z900, one from a collection owned by Chris Wilson, alongside bike racing legend Mike Edwards.

Maria would like to thank her friends, family, sponsors, supporters and all who have helped her throughout her life and racing career.

BERING www.bering.fr, Pirelli, CMS Car & Commercials, Rock Oil, Arai, KNOX, Webtech Software Limited, NGK Spark Plugs, Hel Brake lines, EBC, Dread, Hope&Social, Daytona Boots, The Image Works, Performance Training ­ David Sutton, Fitness First Health Clubs, Skidmarx, Abbastands, Christophe Becquereau Osteopath, Sparkes Management Support, Kall Kwik Northampton, Sauls of Spratton Ltd, Martin Robinson Helmet Design, Andy Peck Paintwork, TT Playstation2 Game, Chicken Hawk Tyre Warmers, B&C, STOMP, Barry Goudriaan, RadiCool & BENco Brixworth Engineering Company.