A shocked Goose attacks Johnny and must be physically restrained both Goose and Johnny shout threats of revenge at each other. However, when no witnesses show for his trial, the courts declare the case ' no contest', and Johnny is released. Max and his fellow officer Jim Goose ( Steve Bisley) are able to arrest the Toecutter's young protege, a punk named Johnny the Boy ( Tim Burns), when Johnny lingers at the scene of one of the gang’s crimes. Nightrider's Armalite motorcycle gang - led by the barbaric ' Toecutter' ( Hugh Keays-Bryne) and his lieutenant Bubba Zanetti (Geoff Parry) - is running roughshod over a country town, vandalizing property, stealing fuel and terrorising the local population. Max, the more skilled driver, pursues the Nightrider in a high-speed nerve-wracking chase which results in the death of the Nightrider and the woman in a fiery car crash. Though he manages to elude his initial pursuers, the Nightrider then encounters the MFP's 'top pursuit man', leather-clad Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson).

Berserk motorcycle gang member Crawford ' Nightrider' Montizano has broken police custody and - with a punk woman by his side - is attempting to flee from the Main Force Patrol, the Federal highway police unit, in a stolen MFP Pursuit Special. The film opens 'a few years from now' in Australia, in a dystopian future where fuel is scarce and law and order has begun to break down. Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Mad max 1979 cast