“A really positive weekend overall with plenty to take away!

“On the Aprilia RS660, we brought home a solid P10 in the opening race. Things got interesting before we even got going when a rider broke down on the start line, leaving me with nowhere to go and costing me valuable time. I kept my head down, stayed focused, and fought back to finish 10th.

“Sunday was where the Aprilia really came alive. We had some brilliant battles throughout the first race, but I was really struggling to get the bike stopped under braking, making it difficult to attack into the corners. Before the final race, we fitted a fresh set of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Racing brake pads, and the transformation was incredible. The confidence under braking came straight back, allowing me to brake later, carry more speed into the turns and race the bike properly. We finished the day with two P8 finishes, and it was a fantastic reminder of just how much difference quality braking performance makes. A huge thank you to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ for supplying products that perform when it matters most. Proud to have them supporting the team!â€�

“The Triumph 765 had a tougher start to the weekend. An oil leak in qualifying meant we were just outside the qualifying time, putting us 4th on the grid for the Support Race.

“In that race, I made a move up the inside into Turn 1 on lap 3, but another rider turned in and we had a coming together. Thankfully we both stayed upright, although I dropped back to 8th. I dug deep, worked my way back through the field, and came home with a P3 podium finish.Ìý

“Sunday couldn’t have gone much better!

“Because the Triumph race from Saturday had been cancelled following three separate red flags, we lined up 2nd on the grid for the rescheduled race. I got a great start and settled into 2nd place, keeping the pressure on the race leader. A few laps in, the leader made a small mistake and ran wide. I was in exactly the right place to take advantage, slipped through into the lead, and never looked back. It certainly wasn’t an easy race, but it was an enjoyable one, and taking my first win on the Triumph 765 made all the hard work worthwhile.Ìý

“A massive thank you to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, all my sponsors, supporters, family and everyone who continues to back us. Every lap we’re learning more about both bikes, and the results are starting to show. Time to get everything prepared for the next meeting!â€�

Costello – born just a stone’s throw from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’ global HQ in Northampton – also held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man course (114.73 mph) until 2009. Her achievements led to her earning an MBE for her services to motorcycling in 2009.

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ had a close relationship with Costello during the earlier stages of her career – a relationship that has been rekindled for 2026 with the firm supplying its ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Racing GPFAX brake pads and XC-Series floating discs for the rider’s Aprilia RS660 across the season.

“It’s great to have ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ back onboard, especially for the upcoming TT and my 30th anniversary of competing around the Mountain Course, as they have been a part of my career in the past and this feels like a full-circle moment,â€� Costello commented during a recent visit to the firm’s Northamptonshire headquarters.

Stay tuned to hear more about Costello’s achievements throughout the year.

Since posting this blog, Maria has sadly suffered an accident racing in the TT and is recovering in hospital – we all wish her well and if anyone wants to share the love her GoFundMe page can be

“A challenging but promising start to the season, with some clear positives to take away – especially in braking performance.

“After qualifying 7th on the Supersport grid, we showed strong potential in Race 2, moving up to 4th place early on. However, after a couple of moments in the opening laps, the decision was made to retire from the race. It was about the bigger picture – staying focused on the season ahead rather than taking unnecessary risks.”

“In the Supertwin class, we were consistently inside the top 15 and made steady progress across the weekend. The Aprilia 660 in particular is showing real promise heading forward.

“A big positive throughout was the performance of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ package. On both bikes, the braking was strong, consistent, and gave the confidence to push: especially important around a circuit like Oliver’s Mount. It’s a solid step forward and something we’re excited to build on into 2026…â€�

“Back in May, our team made its debut on the famous nine-mile ‘Triangle’ circuit around Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush in Northern Ireland. Sharing the tarmac with legends past and present – such as Joey Dunlop, Ryan Farwell, David Todd, John McGuinness and Peter Hickman – our goal was simple but ambitious: qualify within 15% of the fastest lap time and then improve with each outing.�

Qualifying

“After two days of practice, we hit our target every single session. Each lap was faster than the last as we fine-tuned suspension settings, found clearer lines through the Glenshesk and metered our fuel load just right. By the final qualifying run, we were well inside 15% of the benchmark time, thanks in no small part to our machine’s stout engine and the extraordinary stopping power provided by our new partners at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ.â€�

Race Day

Supertwin Race 1

– Start wave: 3rd

– Finish position: 24th

– Key moment: A clean getaway off the line saw us slot into the pack without drama. Mid-race, we battled through Church Bends, but consistent lap times held us firmly in contention.

Supertwin Race 2

– Start wave: 3rd

– Finish position: 16th

– Key moment: A stronger launch this time propelled us past several rivals in the first mile. Tire temperature was spot-on, and our bike’s balance paid dividends round Castlerock, allowing us to pick off a few riders

Reflections & Next Steps

“We’re proud to have met – and exceeded – our own expectations in our very first international road races. Finishing 24th and then 16th out of a stacked field wasn’t just about positions on the board; it proved our package (bike, brakes, rider and crew) is rock solid. That said, relying on a single machine across two races did stretch our resources – lap times suffered slightly late in each outing as fatigue and mechanical wear set in.

“Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to arrive with at least two fully prepped bikes, for two classes allowing us to push harder and chase even quicker laps. One thing’s for certain: once you’ve tasted the Triangle, you’re hooked for life – and we can’t wait to go back…”