The petite blonde motorcycle racer from Northamptonshire, Maria Costello, seems destined never to compete at the Kennedy International North West 200, as she was yet again forced to pull out of the event due to injury. Costello had already faced challenge after challenge in the run up to the event with what seemed like endless mechanical set backs but the real threat came in the form of a broken shoulder blade she sustained four weeks earlier in a high speed crash while testing her Philip Youles Triumph Daytona 675 at Cadwell Park.