SIMON STEAD - GB Age: 25

British career history: Peterborough (1997, AL), Peterborough (1998), Buxton (1998), Sheffield (1999-2002), Peterborough (2002, d/up), Workington (2003-04), Wolverhampton (2003-04, d/up), Belle Vue (2005-07), Coventry (2008)

SIMON'S winter move to Coventry on loan from Belle Vue was one of the more heavily rumoured transfers in the sport.

He has long-since been regarded as one of the most spectacular up and coming British riders, and now needs to take the final step to move himself into the Grand Prix bracket, having already had limited experience of the series as a Wild Card/stand-by rider.

He achieved a notable hat-trick of British Under-21 Final wins in 2001, 2002 and 2003 but has also been unlucky to suffer a series of injuries - including major crashes at both Belle Vue and Ipswich last year.

However, he has always shown a real turn of speed around Coventry and is sure to slot striaght into the Bees' all-important team ethic as they seek more honours in 2008.

Simon comes from a speedway family, as his father Trevor and uncle Ian are both former riders, and he is also a cousin of Adam Allott.