High Octane Billy Powers Another Team Specialized Win at Laguna Seca – Sea Otter Classic Part 2

“OK guys, I’m starting to worry about this not winning thing...” This set the tone for our race strategy: Billy has to win. Our race was a 90 minute test around the 2.238 mile circuit of the Laguna Seca raceway. With the 11 turns, 230 feet of elevation gain per lap, and the infamous Monterey Bay winds this was not going to be an undemanding event.
On the first lap, during the climb up to the top of the corkscrew, two riders broke away. So early in the race their efforts seemed futile, so we let them go. Marcus Smith, member of our junior team, was on the course cheering for us. Around lap 5 or 6 he called out, “there’s a break more than one minute up the road, what are you guys thinking?” His tone of uncertainty ignited our fire and we picked up the pace. The next time around, we sent Billy away with four other riders. They eventually caught the original break. Sensing sucess, Billy strategically rode away from the others and wound up winning in grand style. He crossed the line solo and more than a minute ahead of second place.
How he fueled the furry: one cup of ordinary hotel coffee, one medium cup brewed starbucks coffee, and one freshly drawn espresso shot (courtesy of Rob Spear) minutes before the start of the race.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it is obvious what Billy is saying, "I finally got this monkey off my back, and I got me a jersey to replace it". For many of our early season races, Billy has been quintessential in supporting the victories of other teammates. For him, Sea Otter was a well deserved victory. Cheers!



M45 podium (4th Paul Gossi - Reno; 2nd Rob Anderson TeamSpecializedRacing; 1st fomer teammate Wayne Stetina- Amgen; 3rd Larry Nolan TeamSpecializedRacing; 5th broken derailuer Cynergy rider)