Maria Costello MBE new IAM Ambassador

Pioneer biker Maria Costello MBE suits up to become IAM RoadSmart road safety ambassador

Pioneering motorcycle and sidecar racer Maria Costello MBE has been appointed as Rider Ambassador by Britain's biggest road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. 'Queen of Bikes' Maria, 43, has made more than 40 starts at the Isle of Man TT and became world famous as the first women ever to claim a podium on the island – with third place in the Ultra Lightweight category of the 2005 Manx Grand Prix. Her career spans two decades, with 2016 proving the most successful yet. She scored the female lap record at the Vauxhall International Northwest 200 plus a podium alongside 23 times TT winner John McGuinness in the Isle of Man Senior Classic TT. For five years Maria held a Guinness World Record at the Isle of Man TT, when she lapped the Snaefell mountain course at an average speed of 114.73 mph in 2004 – thus becoming the fastest women to have done so. Maria will be promoting the work of IAM RoadSmart in the field of motorcycle safety in her public appearances around the country, as well talk about current developments on rider safety and advanced riding through her well-read social media channels. Maria said: "I am delighted to take on the role of IAM RoadSmart Rider Ambassador. The charity is famous for its commitment to reducing the numbers of riders killed and injured on the roads by helping them improve their skills on bikes. "It's also crucial that all road users respect each other and have an understanding of the demands of each other's modes of transport and share the road better. "As a racer, I understand that skills turn us into winners. We can all be winners on the road without reaching racing speeds. Improving your skills will make you a road riding winner."