Captain of Coventry for the third successive season, and now in his seventh year with the Bees. Brian sprung to prominence in winning the World Under 21 Championship at Coventry in 1991, although the club say that he was always ear-marked for Brandon irrespective of this. Two solid seasons with 6 point-plus averages followed, before a major breakthrough in 1994 as Brian established himself as British League heat-leader, adding nearly two points to his average. There was another step up in class in 1995 as he became Danish Champion and Coventry No.1, and his improvement continued in 1996 when he qualified for the Grand Prix. Only a broken collarbone prevented a serious challenge for a top three place last year - Brian has his sights set even higher in 1998!
SHAUN TACEY
Back with Bees after a season away. Shaun's career started in the Ipswich junior side, and he earnt a team place in 1993. Injury curtailed his run in the team (and prevented Coventry from signing Leigh Lanham!) and Shaun was loaned to Arena Essex briefly. Then Coventry took him in 1994 and after a disastrous start he steadily improved, doing enough to convince Bees to spend 10,000UKP to buy him on the eve of the 1995 season. It was another mixed year, but he finished in great form to book his place for 1996 - his best season yet, when he held an average above 7.00 for much of the time, only to see it dip away with major mechanical problems in the last month. Was controverisally left out of the 1997 side as the management went for Simon Cross instead, and went on loan to Kings Lynn, a move which didn't work out. However, he regained his confidence with a spell in the Premier League at the Isle of Wight and is now ready for an Elite League challenge with Bees.
GREG HANCOCK
The World Speedway Champion, and one of the sport's great entertainers. Greg was brought to England in 1989 by then Cradley boss Colin Pratt, and he simply got better and better year by year. He became Cradley's No.1 in 1993 after the loss of Jan O Pedersen the previous season, and in 1994 he came within one race of the World Championship. 1995 saw him victorious at the British Grand Prix, and his consistency the following year netted him third place behind Billy Hamill and Tony Rickardsson. The demise of Cradley saw him join Coventry on loan, and he started in scorching form, both for club and individually. He won the first GP in the Czech Republic, and was never seriously threatened, despite losing almost all of his equipment in a van fire before the British GP. He was crowned Champion at Vojens in September, and then played a key role in Coventry's Craven Shield triumph. Now re-united with Colin Pratt, the only aim can be to do it all again!
BILLY HAMILL
His career has followed a remarkably similar pattern to Hancock's, as he joined Cradley one year later in 1990. Billy is the slighly more spectacular of the two, but for some years his scores were slighly lower than Greg's, and the 1994 season in particular was a disappointment. All that changed in 1995, however, topping the Premier League averages and becoming a Grand Prix winner. His British form continued in 1996, and he became World Champion, pipping Hans Nielsen in the final round. Switched to Belle Vue in 1997 with Cradley out of the running, and although he lost his World top spot to Hancock, he again topped the British averages. The two great Americans are now re-united at Brandon, and the 1998 GP series could well see another Exide 1-2, but both will be equally determined to win it!
STUART ROBSON
The youngest member of the Coventry side at 21, Stuart has already ridden for a variety of clubs. Started out at Newcastle, but never really got to grips with the track, not being helped by some nasty crashes. Coventry had seen his potential, though, and signed him at reserve for 1995. He was one of the success stories of a difficult season, highlights including a maximum against Exeter and a last-heat 5-1 against Hull when he overtook Alan Grahame and Paul Thorp to win the match for Bees. 1996, still at Coventry, started well, but quickly tailed off with mechanical problems, and he lost his team place, perhaps unfortunately, during a spell on the sidelines. He was loaned to Middlesbrough, and then to Hull for 1997 when he became one of the Premier League's star performers. A semi-finalist at the Premier League Rider's Championship, Coventry required his services for the 1998 Elite League, and it's his toughest challenge yet, but if he continues to improve, he should be successful.
DAVID WALSH
The lowest-averaged member of the side, and yet the most experienced! David has an unenviable record of being associated with tracks who close down! However, there have been many high spots in a long career, one of them being during his top-flight spell with Cradley in the late eighties. He hit form just at the right time at the tail-end of 1987, and inspired Heathens to a KO Cup final win over...Coventry. He had a long spell with Glasgow in the Nineties, and had a very successful 1995 in the Premier League. He moved to Middlesbrough in 1996 when Glasgow became the Scottish Monarchs and, on Boro's closure Bradford brought him into the Elite League for 1997 when Todd Wiltshire was refused a work permit. Started in superb form, and although he tailed off towards the end he held his team place and picked up an Elite League winners' medal. Bradford closed (!) and Walsh moved to Coventry on loan, ironically after Shane Bowes' decision to stay at home.