Team up with Maria Costello MBE for Catalogue release

Ignition specialist NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd has teamed up with renowned British motorcycle racer Maria Costello MBE for the release of its 2016 Motorcycle Applications catalogue.

NGK has long been synonymous with the two-wheel bike scene both on the road and also in the motorcycling racing arena where its spark plugs have helped the world’s leading teams and riders to numerous victories.

The company has been a sponsor of the 42-year-old road racer for a number of years making her the ideal person to be featured on the cover of its latest publication which was officially launched at this week’s Motorcycle Trade Expo held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Northamptonshire-based Maria said: “I’ve been involved with NGK for a number of years and the relationship has grown closer over that time so I was delighted to be asked to appear on the cover.
NGK products are excellent and I’ve always had great support from the company.

“This kind of thing also helps to promote my efforts to encourage more women to get involved in motorcycling. I hold regular all-women track days where they can have the opportunity to participate without feeling intimidated.

“I love all motorsport but motorcycling is at the core of my life. Racing motorbikes is the best thing I’ve ever done. It has its up and downs and I’ve broken over 20 bones but I’ve not found anything that gives me the same buzz to replace it.”

Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, said: “NGK has a long and succesful pedigree in motorcyling, both on the road and on the track, and we are very pleased to be associated with Maria’s campaign to get more women involved in the two-wheel scene.

“Our products and new catalogue generated a lot of interest at Motorcycle Trade Expo and we are also pleased to announce that a new 320-plug dispenser is to be made avaiable to customers in the next few months.”

Maria, a former veterinary nurse who received her MBE in 2009 for services to motorcycling, is currently finalising her plans for the 2016 racing season. Last year she competed in events that included the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed at the Sydney Motorsports Park, Australia, where she took part in the parade with Grand Prix legend Freddie Spencer and finished in eighth place overall and fourth in class on the Rob Francis VFR400.

She also competed in the Isle of Man TT Races where she took her Pizza Race Bike Kawasaki ER6 Supertwin to a strong 17th place in its race category, and was part of the Classic BMW Team, at the Goodwood Revival, riding a Ferdinand Kazcor custom built 1966/67 two-cylinder boxer BMW race bike in the Barry Sheene Memorial race.


NGK is the world’s number one original equipment (OE) fitment and its Iridium IX spark plugs are popular with motorcyclists for their ability to provide enhanced ignition efficiency, better acceleration, faster starting and smoother running, longer life, and better fuel consumption.