TV-Series
Description
Rick Thunderbolt, a champion star-racer from Earth, first gained recognition in minor league circuits. Residing in New Mexico in 2076, he raced alongside friends. During one race, his request for gear-shifting advice caught the attention of Don Wei. This meeting resulted in Wei becoming his manager, leading Rick to win the Earth Grand Prix for three consecutive years. Rick left Wei Racing in 2081, ending their partnership; he continued racing but never reclaimed the championship title.
By 2082, Rick secured the minor league championship and was chosen as the Earth Team's primary pilot for the intergalactic Great Race of Ōban. En route to preliminary races on Alwas, he discovered a teenage stowaway, nicknaming her "Little Mouse" (later known as Molly). Piloting the Whizzing Arrow in the first race, Rick suffered severe injuries when the ship's reactor exploded due to sabotage. Medical scans revealed permanent nervous system damage, resulting in a career-ending outcome for the racer whose identity was defined by the sport.
During recovery, Rick investigated the sabotage, tracing it to a mad scrub working for "The Timeless One." The scrub was killed before divulging more, leaving Rick only a stone pendant with a mysterious symbol. Consulting a local shaman triggered a vision where he confronted Canaletto, though the encounter was subsequently erased from his memory.
Unable to race, Rick transitioned to coaching Molly and Jordan Wilde. He recognized Molly's latent piloting talent and observed her withholding her full potential, partly influenced by Don Wei's critical demeanor. Rick confronted Don about his treatment of Molly, prompting Don to disclose his family history. This made Rick the first person to learn Molly's true identity as Eva Wei, Don's daughter. Rick kept this secret while mentoring her.
After the Earth Team qualified for the Ōban finals, Rick decided to return to Earth. Before departing, he encouraged Molly to reconcile with Don and reveal their relationship. Though absent from the Ōban finals, Canaletto later revealed Rick's crash was orchestrated to eliminate him. Canaletto assessed that Rick possessed the potential to win the Great Race but would have refused the Avatar's crown due to excessive self-regard, necessitating his removal.
By 2082, Rick secured the minor league championship and was chosen as the Earth Team's primary pilot for the intergalactic Great Race of Ōban. En route to preliminary races on Alwas, he discovered a teenage stowaway, nicknaming her "Little Mouse" (later known as Molly). Piloting the Whizzing Arrow in the first race, Rick suffered severe injuries when the ship's reactor exploded due to sabotage. Medical scans revealed permanent nervous system damage, resulting in a career-ending outcome for the racer whose identity was defined by the sport.
During recovery, Rick investigated the sabotage, tracing it to a mad scrub working for "The Timeless One." The scrub was killed before divulging more, leaving Rick only a stone pendant with a mysterious symbol. Consulting a local shaman triggered a vision where he confronted Canaletto, though the encounter was subsequently erased from his memory.
Unable to race, Rick transitioned to coaching Molly and Jordan Wilde. He recognized Molly's latent piloting talent and observed her withholding her full potential, partly influenced by Don Wei's critical demeanor. Rick confronted Don about his treatment of Molly, prompting Don to disclose his family history. This made Rick the first person to learn Molly's true identity as Eva Wei, Don's daughter. Rick kept this secret while mentoring her.
After the Earth Team qualified for the Ōban finals, Rick decided to return to Earth. Before departing, he encouraged Molly to reconcile with Don and reveal their relationship. Though absent from the Ōban finals, Canaletto later revealed Rick's crash was orchestrated to eliminate him. Canaletto assessed that Rick possessed the potential to win the Great Race but would have refused the Avatar's crown due to excessive self-regard, necessitating his removal.