13 June 2009
Article in Chronicle and Echo. Maria Costello receives the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Maria Costello, aged 31, from Spratton, once the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit, received the award for services to motorcycling. 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, and I hope we see more females on motorbikes and in racing. I can't thank enough all those who have helped and supported me." Maria, the 2005 BBC Northampton Sports Personality of the Year, will receive her award from the Queen at a ceremony at St James's Palace later in the year. But she has revealed she did not believe the honour was real at first. She explained: "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 from The Sun saying: 'Believe it! You're getting an MBE' that it started to sink in. "I kept it pretty much to myself. I rang my mum and sister as my dad already knew, and told my friends and we shared a bottle of champagne. "My family are so proud and even my Mum, who wasn't so keen on me starting racing, is fully behind me for this year's Manx Grand Prix. I'm reinvigorated by the MBE, although I won't believe it until I meet the Queen." Maria's busy schedule will see her compete in Belgium at the weekend in the Four Hours of Spa Classic.
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