Congratulations to Maria Costello for beating Sandra Barnetts 7 year old female lap record. Does anyone know by how much the record was beaten? Also.. does anyone know if another female solo rider has ever won a Silver replica as Sandra did in the 1996 Junior race? These facts are awfully difficult to find out.

Maria might have beat Sandra s lap time but times have well changed since Sandra s lap with bike performance and the road conditions etc. Well done Maria but me thinks Sandra is still the BEST female around the island

Fully agree with you Rik, I first saw Sandra race at Mallory Park in 1996 when she won 5 races in one day with the EMRA club, she won 2 on a TZ250, 2 on a CBR600 and one on a Fireblade! What an allrounder!! A few weeks later in the 600 Race of the Year she beat Phil Plater no less, from that day on I was a big fan.
Sandra has had amazing rides at the TT, 9th on a 400, 12th on a 600 (beating McGuiness in 1996!) 15th on a Single Cylinder, 15th on a 250, top 20 on an RC30, top 30's on Firblades and R1's.
Well done to Maria for beating Sandra's lap record but she has a long way to go to become the fastest woman compettitor in my view.
I'd just love to know what happened to Sandra after TT 200? Is she racing abroad? Or running a team somewhere, does anyone know? I still have her signature on my helmet from 1996 which is one of my prized posetions.

By the way..... if Maria has the fastest female TT lap, who has the fastest race?
Should that person not be classed as the fastest female TT racer?
Just a thought.
Well done to Maria once again, she is a real hero too!
Stick together girls.

Well done to Maria, she has worked hard to beat Sandras record. It just shows you what you can be achieved if you have the determination and self belief. I have always greatly admired Sandra and though she won't know it, she has been a big role model for me, particularly in me racing at the Manx.

Kate Parkinson was probably the female rider that most inspired me personally, particularly for her achievements on GP250's. As a road bike rider, I watched Kate race at the UGP and NW, and this was definately a catalyst in me starting racing at all, first on short circuits, then on the Irish Roads and at the Manx.

Funny how things go full circle. Apparently Kate once raced a Classic bike for the Leonards, who also lent me the K4 Honda to race at the Pre-TT Classic.

Well done to you too Elle, on your win in the 350 class at the pre TT classic.

Congradulations firstly to Maria for finally
cracking that record held by Sandra since 1996.
But I still think Sandra was the best, as said in other postings for her achievements.
And yes it took some self belief and effort to
achieve what Maria has done, it does to show
how much harder Maria had to work to achieve it.
Now she has finally done it, faster times may come easier ! She'll porbably go faster at the MGP
providing she has the right bike.

I to admire Kate Parkinson, I remember her from
her first race days, she was a good rider on the
two stroker! We miss her, but I did speak with
her last year and she says she won't be back and
doesn' t follow the bikes anymore because she'd
be tempted ! Must let her know the record was beaten!
Well done Elle, great ride at the Billown Classic.
Also great effort from Anita Buxton what a great
TT and more to come ! Does to show she was
unfairly left out of the TT on big bike since the
last ride on 1999. Last recorded time on a 900
in 1999 at 102.68 mph, to over 107mph this year !
And where would she be now ? I recall Anita and
Maria's times at their last appearance at the TT
equal, now we'll never know who'll have made the
record first !? Such a shame. Go girl give it to
'em next TT !!