A DOWNHILL mountain bike race team have added another county rider to their ranks.

Myles James will be be joining One Vision Global Racing next year after impressing the owners.

The team, based in Saddleworth, near Manchester, is the brainchild of team owner and lead rider Jack Reading, who lives in the city for six months in 2012.

Also onboard is Will Jones, who lived with Reading in Holme Lacy.

"Will and Myles are already good friends and training partners, so Myles is a perfect fit for the One Vision programme," said Reading.

"I have been watching Myles’ progress for the last 12 months and feel he will be a great new signing for the team moving forward.

"He has finished fourth in the UK expert rankings and will join the rest of the team riders in elite for 2017.

"He is also hoping to compete in his first world cups next season.

"Will, meanwhile, has just finished his rookie season on the world cup circuit and he did extremely well.

"He made it to finals at the Fort William World Cup in Scotland, and also achieved a career best national series overall in 10th place after finishing fifth at the final round of the series. He will stay with the team for 2017 and is working hard with the aim of moving up the world rankings."

The other riders are George Gannicott, from Scotland, and James Hurst, from Huddersfield.

Reading, who is 27 and is also an optometrist, decided to set up One Vision Global Racing after racing world cups for five years.

"The first two years have gone extremely well, and throughout 2016 I have worked with Nicolai Bikes, the team’s main sponsor, to design and develop a new world cup race bike," said Reading.

"This bike is now in production for 2017 after such a successful first year following it’s initial development.

"The team operates as a world level development program for promising riders, giving them the chance to reach their full potential.

"I started racing in 2007 and have experienced the difficulties that downhill racing throws at riders.

"The team aims to provide an atmosphere to help and encourage riders, who would otherwise be under supported elite ‘privateers’, achieve their goals and dreams within the sport. "These riders have previously struggled to achieve their potential due to a lack of outside support, as the sport is massively under funded and there is a lack of good coverage despite being such a great spectator sport

" The team aims to support people that love racing, and have a real talent, but struggle to make it work alongside study or work commitments.

"Will and Myles are two of these riders, and One Vision aims to help them reach their potential in the sport."

The team are looking for sponsorship from outside of their bike industry to provide some of the financial support as they move forward.

For more information, visit jackreading.com