Late for work and showing no patience for traffic, a 23-year-old Bonney Lake man decided to apply plenty of zip to his high-performance motorcycle Friday morning.

To the tune of 140 mph.

Not such a good idea.

The Washington State Patrol was watching along Highway 18. A State Patrol Airplane pilot spotted the motorcyclist at about 8:25 a.m. traveling eastbound on state Route 18 near the Green River and speeding far above the posted 55-mph speed limit.

“He was ripping,” said State Trooper Cliff Pratt, who eventually stopped the man on the ground at SR 18 and Interstate 90. “It was one of the fastest (violators) I have ever seen.”

The man, according to troopers, followed other motorists at a close distance and made unsafe lane changes to pass traffic.

While the State Patrol had him clocked at 100 mph, the man admitted to traveling at high speeds ranging from 140 to 150 mph.

He did not have a license to drive the powerful 2006 Honda 600cc bike and was arrested for suspicion of negligent driving, which carries a maximum fine of $550. He likely will face a $124 fine for lacking a motorcycle endorsement on his license.

“He was very apologetic, very honest about it,” Pratt said. “He knew he was caught.”