Video: Jack Reading launches One Vision Global Racing

With the 2015 UCI Downhill World Cup season fast approaching, LoamyMedia got invited along to the launch of a brand new, all-British UCI trade team for their first training session in Malaga this week.


One Vision Global Racing is owned by Jack Reading, who, despite being injured for most of last season, still managed a top 50 result in the world cup overall in 2014. Managed by his Dad, Phil Reading, Jack is also joined on the team by Scottish Elite rider “Pistol” Pete Williams and Junior rider, Jamie Hurst.


With main sponsors Trek on board and a roster of talented up and coming riders, 2015 looks to be a bright year for Jack. We caught up with him in Malaga to find out more.

Who is One Vision Global Racing?

One Vision Global Racing is a new UCI trade team on the downhill mountain bike circuit for 2015. I am team owner and rider, and my Dad, Phil Reading, is the team manager. My teammates are Scottish elite rider, Peter Williams and junior rider, James Hurst. We will be competing in World Cup and British Downhill series events representing the team and it’s sponsors.


Who are the team sponsors?

We are extremely lucky to have such fantastic support at the very start of this project. I can’t thank Trek Bicycles enough for their faith in my plans and unbelievable support in what I am trying to achieve by starting this professional team. Their bikes are the best in the business in my opinion and we are all extremely excited to be riding them. The team’s other sponsors are O’Neal, Pacenti, Fox, Mojo, Works Components, MRP chain devices, Fusion, Bontrager, RoostDH, Dirt Factory and Ticky Bikes and we can’t thank them all enough for their support. I’d also like to thank my own personal sponsors Schwalbe, DNA Sports Performance, Stones Wood Construction, Mark Davies, and Apollonia House for their great support.


For those who don’t know, who is Jack Reading?

I’m 26 years old and live in Saddleworth outside Manchester with my fiancé Sarah. I live, eat and breathe riding mountain bikes. I have a masters degree in Optometry and work as a locum Optometrist alongside my racing career. That’s pretty much all there is to know.

So why have you started a team of your own?

I have been racing world cups since 2010, as a privateer for four years and on a professional UCI trade team in 2014. I was thinking about starting my own team at the end of 2013, but when SC Intense came in with their offer to ride for them in 2014 I would have been crazy to turn it down. I now appreciate the benefits of both being a privateer and a team rider, and this puts me in the perfect position to start this venture in 2015. As a privateer you have the freedom to operate in the way you want to. In a team some of this is taken away from you but you have the support. My aim is to create an environment for myself and the other team riders where both of these things can be a reality.


What does One Vision Global Racing aim to achieve?

The team is operating as a world level development program for promising riders, giving them the chance to reach their full potential. I started racing back in 2007 and have experienced the difficulties that DH racing throws at you. I aim to provide an atmosphere to help and encourage riders, who would otherwise be elite ‘privateers’ or promising juniors, achieve their goals and dreams within the sport. These riders have previously struggled to achieve their potential due to a lack of outside support. The team will aim to support people that love racing, and have a real talent, but struggle to make it work alongside study or work commitments. The team is also the best foundation I can imagine from which I can achieve my goals and reach my potential within the sport.

What benefits do the riders get from being on this team?

The main and most obvious benefit is the provision of the best quality bikes and kit to enable them to race at the highest level. All of the team riders they compete against have this, so it takes away that disadvantage. They will also have all of the necessary spares available to them to get them comfortably through a race weekend. So many riders can’t relax at races because they are worrying about breaking parts in practice that they haven’t been able to afford to buy spares for. Then there is the comfort and convenience of pit space at world cup and national events. Juniors get to ride, train and travel with more experienced riders who can help them get to grips with riding at the highest level. World Cup racing is such a big step both physically and mentally, so this support will certainly help.


Who are Peter Williams and James Hurst?

I have known Pete since 2007 when I first started racing. We went through the senior category together where Pete finished 1st and I finished 4th in the British Cycling overall. We have been friends ever since. Pete has had some serious injuries in the last three years – broken leg, broken collar bone and a ruptured spleen to name a few. In 2014 he finally started to look like he was recovering from it all and qualified for all four of the world cups he attended. I am hoping with the support One Vision can provide him he will start to climb up those rankings. I have been coaching Jamie for about two years now. We’re now great friends and have loads of fun riding together. I remember being introduced to him back in 2012 when Jamie was a youth rider and thinking, this kid might have what it takes. In 2014 he was showing signs of some real pace, but not having enough kit and spares, some really bad luck and then a snapped bike half way through the year, meant things just didn't happen for him. He has fantastic support from his parents which in my opinion is vital for success, and I feel bringing him onto the team and taking him under my wing to the world cup races this year will help him to have a great season and progress as a rider.

So the team is all ready for the 2015 race season?

Yes we’re good to go and couldn’t be more excited! We are all loving the bikes and are working really hard with pre-season preparation. Racing kicks off in April with the first round of the BDS and World Cup Series on back to back weekends, and we’ll all be ready for action. Huge thanks again to all of the sponsors of the team who have made this exciting project a possibility. We aim to do them all proud.

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