Seventeen-year-old motorcycle racer Gun Kyoma launches his career in the high-stakes world of illegal tōge street racing, part of the rolling-zoku subculture, where his exceptional speed and fierce competitive spirit first emerge aboard a Honda CB750. His journey evolves from these illicit beginnings into the legitimate arena of professional circuit competition, notably the All Japan Road Race Championship, where he adopts a Suzuki GSX-R as his primary machine.

A pivotal moment occurs during an endurance race at Suzuka International Racing Course, forcing Gun into an unexpected partnership with his former rival, Hideyoshi Hijiri. This collaboration marks a significant shift in Gun's approach to both racing and his rivalries. Personal relationships deeply shape his path: Ai Itou stands as his consistent romantic partner, while key figures include rival-turned-ally Hideyoshi Hijiri and close friend Hiro Okita, who races a Kawasaki Z400GP. Miyuki Ichinose, piloting a Honda VT250F, develops romantic feelings for Hiro.

The narrative includes the impactful death of one rival in an automobile accident. Gun's racing number, 56, gains such iconic status that real-world professional racers later adopt it as homage. All portrayals consistently depict this core arc from street racer to professional. The original manga serialization chronicles his entire journey, while animated adaptations—a two-part OVA and a theatrical movie re-edit—focus specifically on races at Tsukuba and Suzuka, emphasizing the endurance race partnership with Hideyoshi. No spin-offs or other media present alternate portrayals or significant deviations.