Maria Costello in serious condition after sidecar crash at TT, transferred to Aintree

• Costello was transferred from Noble’s Hospital on the Isle of Man to Aintree Hospital on the English mainland
• Parker is conscious and responsive, treatment is ongoing
• The sidecar qualifying session was red-flagged after the incident and not restarted
• Costello is one of the world’s most prominent female road racers and was awarded the MBE in 2009

The Isle of Man TT 2026 continues to be overshadowed by incidents. On Tuesday evening (26 May), British motorcycle racer Maria Costello MBE and her passenger Shaun Parker crashed during the first sidecar qualifying session on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course. The outfit, carrying race number 28, came off the course at Brandish during the second lap, prompting a red flag. The session was subsequently not restarted as sunset approached at around 9 pm.

What is Maria Costello’s current condition?

According to the official update from the TT organisers on Wednesday morning (27 May), Costello is in a serious but stable condition. She was initially airlifted by Airmed helicopter to Noble’s Hospital in Douglas, where head injuries were identified. She has since been transferred to Aintree Hospital near Liverpool on the English mainland, where she continues to be assessed and treated.

The TT organisers’ statement read: “Maria Costello MBE and Shaun Parker, sidecar outfit number 28, came off at Brandish yesterday during the second lap of the first qualifying session of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races resulting in a Red Flag.”

The organisers further stated: “Maria has since been transferred to Aintree. Her condition is currently reported as serious but stable, and she continues to be assessed and receive treatment for injuries sustained.”

What injuries did passenger Shaun Parker sustain?

Parker was taken to Noble’s Hospital by ambulance after the crash. His condition is described as conscious and responsive. He is being treated for chest, leg, arm and facial injuries. On the first night after the accident, only leg and arm injuries had been reported for Parker; the updated statement on Wednesday added chest and facial injuries to the list.

The TT organisers expressed their best wishes for recovery and thanked the marshals and the medical team of MRMS (Manx Road Racing Medical Services) for their work.

Who is Maria Costello?

Maria Costello, born on 9 June 1973 in Northampton, is one of the most accomplished female road racers in international motorcycle sport. Her racing career began in 1995 with a victory at Mallory Park. In 2004, she set a Guinness World Record as the fastest woman around the TT course, with an average speed of 114.73 mph (approximately 184.6 km/h), which stood until 2009 when Jenny Tinmouth surpassed it.

In 2005, Costello became the first woman to finish on the podium in a solo race at the Manx Grand Prix, taking third place in the Ultra-Lightweight class. She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2009 for her services to motorcycle sport. In 2018, she also became the first female president of the TT Riders Association, a charity that supports TT riders and their families in times of need.

In 2019, Costello made history again by competing in both solo and sidecar races at the same TT. In the sidecar race, she finished 17th with passenger Julie Canipa, lapping the course at just under 103 mph. Since then, the sidecar class has been a permanent part of her TT programme. At the 2026 TT, she was racing with experienced passenger Shaun Parker.

By her own account, Costello has suffered at least 24 broken bones during her over 30-year racing career and has always returned to the track after injuries, including following a crash at the North West 200 in 2014. Beyond her role as an active racer, she founded the “Woman on a Motorcycle” initiative in 2013 to inspire women to take up motorcycling, and organised women-only track days.

Costello had already been involved in an incident the same day

A detail that received less attention in initial reports about the sidecar crash: Costello had already been involved in a minor incident during solo qualifying on the same Tuesday. According to reports, she crashed at Governor’s Dip. Whether there is any connection between the two incidents is unknown.

TT 2026 marred by incidents

The sidecar crash involving Costello and Parker is part of a series of incidents that have significantly disrupted the 2026 TT programme so far. On the opening day, 25 May, a serious incident occurred during the free practice session for the Superbike and Superstock classes at the exit of Parliament Square in Ramsey. A rider came off the course and his motorcycle entered a spectator area. One rider and eight spectators were injured and taken to Noble’s Hospital. All those involved were conscious.

As a result, the spectator area at Parliament Square was closed for the entire remaining duration of the 2026 TT. According to the latest update, the rider and six of the eight spectators have been discharged from hospital, while two spectators remained in treatment. The qualifying sessions planned for Monday evening were cancelled entirely.

What happens next with qualifying?

Two further qualifying sessions were scheduled for Wednesday (27 May). The afternoon session at 1 pm covered the Supersport and Sportbike classes, while the next sidecar qualifying was planned for 8:15 pm. Tuesday’s Superbike session had been dominated by Dean Harrison with two laps at over 133 mph, Michael Dunlop was fastest in Supersport, Paul Jordan in Sportbike. Josh Brookes topped the Superstock times. In the sidecar class, the Crowe brothers had held the best time before the red flag.

The 2026 TT thus remains under the shadow of an unusually high number of incidents during the practice and qualifying week, which have repeatedly disrupted the regular schedule.

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