riders who would never approach the hypothetical maximum. However, sales in the United States increased year after year between its release in 1999 and 2006, rising from just a few thousand units in 1999 to over 10,000 in 2006. Competitive motorsports Many riders have found that the Hayabusa lends itself well to any number of functional purposes, including competitive motorsports. The Hayabusa has been used in sanctioned closed course road racing, drag racing, and top speed competition. Top speeds of over 270 mph, engine outputs of over 700 horsepower, and performances in the standing quarter mile as quick as 6.9 seconds and as fast as 209.14 mph have been recorded by street registered Hayabusa motorcycles using standard-width (190mm) DOT-approved street-legal rear tires. On July 17, 2011, riding a highly modified turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa, Bill Warner set a new world motorcycle land speed record of from a standing start to 1.5 miles at the Loring Timing Association's Land Speed Race, held at the Loring Commerce Centre (the former Loring Air Force Base) in Limestone, Maine. Custom versions The Hayabusa has been one of the top choices for streetbike customization, perhaps even the most popular customized sportbike. One reason may be the unique, instantly recognizable bodywork. The easy tunability of the engine, the wide selection of aftermarket parts, possibly more than any other Japanese motorcycle, and the interchangeability between models of Suzuki parts have also played a role. It was the vibrancy of this custom scene that prompted Suzuki to send Koji Yoshirua to the US for feedback and inspiration for the second generation design. Bikes are typically built to impress with being the most extreme, and most innovative. For professional custom shops, the status as the first builder to introduce a new style or customization — a 300 mm-series rear tire width, for example — is often hotly contested, and can pay dividends in media attention and in sales. Celebrity customers, such as rappers or NBA stars, also serve to build the credibility of a custom shop. The bikes themselves, at shows, racetracks, dragstrips, and at build competitions, also serve as "rolling billboards" for their makers. Bikes are usually built around a theme, such as a NASCAR-inspired bike with retro-70s chrome wheels, racing numbers, flames, and sponsor insignia reminiscent of a stock car, or a bike that takes its cues from popular films, such as Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on