"The Cult of Doom"
Atop a mountain plateau, worshippers congregate to offer their praise to Death. The hooded leader initiates a lethal ritual. Two motorcycle riders accelerate from opposite ends before incinerating each other with flame-throwers.
However, this is merely the 'warm-up' act. A sacrifice is also to be made this night. The female victim is catapulted off the mountain, as a certain Brimstone Biker happens to be passing nearby.
Utilizing Demonic speed, the Ghost Rider manages to save the girl from a fatal plunge. Unnaturally showing concern for her welfare, the spook cyclist places the unconscious youngster in the care of two patrol cops.
Another dawn, another day Johnny Blaze wakes to find himself God-knows-where after the Ghost Rider's escapades. As luck would have it, Johnny comes to stop at a run-down cycle repair shop. Chief mechanic and proprietor, "Harley" Baggs is impressed with Johnny's intuitive touch with forsaken bike engines and offers him a job on the spot.
Baggs invites Blaze to a big bike rally in the desert. Johnny doesn't want to ride in the race, but goes along with it anyway.
Blaze blows most of the field away, except for one rider who manages to stay ahead of him, that is until beset by Death Cult cyclists for no apparent reason.
The riders scatter, leaving Blaze to tend to the stricken rider. Johnny is taken aback to find that the rider is the same girl he saved in the mountains a night ago. Instant passion flares between the two of them.
The Cult cyclists pay a late night visit to Harley Baggs' shop. They question him about Johnny and when he gives unsatisfactory answers, he's executed in horrific manner.
Johnny's feeling good about himself, having spent the day with a lady. That feeling fizzles out fast when he surveys the burning corpse of his new friend.
Flames of his own making envelope Johnny Blaze as he unleashes the Demon within. The Ghost Rider is welcome to avenge the atrocity committed, but is ambushed en route by the Cultists.