Maria Costello, MBE, is the most prominent female rider in British motorbike racing – a traditionally male-dominated sport. Having established herself as a champion over the course of the last 15 years, the petite blonde is still fighting a battle agains
In Queen of Bikers, Maria details the dogged obsession that led her to the top of her game; the early opposition by her family to her dangerous sport; the broken bones and narrow misses; the rehab recovery from injury and depression; the ambivalent attitude of fans to the girl on a motorcycle; the break-up with her boyfriend and difficulties in maintaining a relationship; the tragic death of a bike-racing legend and great friend, man-mountain Dave Jefferies; the groupie scene in the male riders’ ‘paddocks’, and the stereotyping of mild-mannered Maria as a wild ‘biker chick’ in leather; the hard-won gain of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy race record, and its relinquishment to girl rider Jenny Tinmouth. In Queen of Bikers, the real woman behind the leather-clad image talks candidly and entertainingly about her life. |
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