COVENTRY Buildbase Bees are pleased to confirm that the deal to make Ben Barker a full asset of the club has now been completed.

Bees declared their intentions last month to add the 20-year-old to their asset base after his impressive performances as their No.8 stand-by rider.

He has come into the side on several occasions, generally at reserve when Andreas Messing or Stan Burza have been injured, and he also rode impressively in the top five at Belle Vue as a replacement for Olly Allen.

But his best display yet came with a match-winning score of 12 (paid 15) at home to Swindon last Friday, when the Bees turned around a 12-point deficit to win 52-41.

Barker joins the Brandon roster from Reading, having been transferred to Smallmead with several Oxford riders in the winter of 2005/06. He will continue to ride for Stoke in the Premier League this season.

Bees chief Allen Trump said: "It's brilliant to have this completed, he's a great lad and I'm delighted to have him on board.

"Ben's been a revelation when he's ridden for us this year, and we saw it again on Friday. Nothing seems to faze him, he just goes out there and does it.

"He's not worried about the track or who he's up against and I think he's a terrific prospect."