Reigning UCI World Cup Junior Downhill Champion and British National Junior Downhill Champion, Josh Bryceland is to join his mentor Steve Peat on the Santa Cruz Syndicate team. The new deal tops off a great year for Bryceland - highlights include a 9th place at Maribor and 4th overall at the Ae Forest NPS, beating Greg Minnaar.

"I'm so happy to join the Syndicate," said an excited Bryceland. "Steve and Nathan [Rennie] are two riders I've looked up to for a long time and to now be on the Syndicate with them is a dream come true!"

Steve Peat is pleased to have his protégé onboard "I've been helping Josh out for a long time now and I like what I see. He has the drive to be the best and he fits the Syndicate mentality well. He's already an amazing rider at a young age and I think he'll flourish riding alongside Rennie and myself."

Rob Roskopp, owner of Santa Cruz Bicycles, said, "Josh has what it takes to be the next superstar of downhill. He has a great personality, tons of skill and he's very driven! We welcome him into the exclusive club known as the Santa Cruz Syndicate."

Bryceland rode a Santa Cruz V-10 throughout the 2007 season, so he'll have a head-start in getting the best out of the bike for 2008. "My goals are to consistently place top 15 at World Cups, keep hold of the yellow jersey, and to podium at the World Champs," he says. Best of luck to him...