Rick

Rick
Participation Information
UK Series	5, 7, Extreme 2
US Season	Nickelodeon
Team Information
Team	The Mavericks
Team Members	Francis Gallagher Ian Aldridge Kevin Gallagher
From	Southampton, Hampshire
Other Entries	Maverick (Series 4)
Robot Statistics
Weight	97kg
Dimensions	0.31m x 0.85m x 0.80m
Top Speed	12mph
Drive	372w electric motors
Weapons	Flipper & spinning blade
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"A classic wedge shaped flipper. Old fashioned? I wonder."

— Jonathan Pearce

Rick was a silver wedge-shaped robot that competed in Series 5 and 7 of Robot Wars, alongside the second series of Robot Wars Extreme, and the one-off series Nickelodeon Robot Wars.

The robot enjoyed a small amount of success in Series 5, making the Heat Final, before being beaten by Razer, but it only reached that stage after the robot it lost to in the first round, Suicidal Tendencies, had to pull out. Despite not entering in Series 6, Rick reached the second round of the Minor Meltdown during the second series of Extreme. Rick returned to the UK Championships in Series 7, but was eliminated in the first round on a split judges' decision.

Rick's greatest success came when it triumphed alongside Ming 3 in the International Tag Team Terror of Nickelodeon Robot Wars, representing the United Kingdom.

Rick was the second of two robots created by 'The Mavericks'. The first of which was Maverick, which competed in Series 4 and went out in the first round.

Design

Rick in Series 5

Rick in Nickelodeon Robot Wars

Rick was a relatively small, compact machine, that was armoured with an alloy body, and polycarbonate protection around the top and rear. The robot was also invertible, with zero ground clearance and 12 mph speeds. In terms of weaponry, Rick's main form of attack came in the form of a flipper at the front of the robot which was powered by a pneumatic ram. Rick also had a bludgeoning face-spinner at the back, powered by a 3KW motor.

Official photo for Nickelodeon Robot Wars

In its debut series, Rick had its tyres protected by polycarbonate wheel guards and rear framework, but these were removed for the machine's future appearances on the show - leaving its tyres exposed in Extreme 2, Series 7, and Nickelodeon Robot Wars.

Robot History

Series 5

Suicidal Tendencies crumples its adversary

In Round 1, Rick faced the 21st seed Suicidal Tendencies, which had defeated its predecessor Maverick in the first round of Series 4. Rick was unable to gain vengeance as Suicidal Tendencies dominated the fight, shoving its opponent around the arena and damaging it with its crusher, winning the judges' decision. However, due to motor problems in the pits, Suicidal Tendencies withdrew from the competition, leaving Rick to fight Destruct-A-Bubble in the second round.

Philippa Forrester: "It's an unusual-looking robot, isn't it?"

Ian Aldridge: "Very much so!"

Philippa Forrester: "What do you think of it?"

Ian Aldridge: "It's going to be hard"

— Pre-battle interview

Rick flips Destruct-A-Bubble into the pit

Rick got underneath Destruct-A-Bubble and lifted it up with its flipper, not quite flipping it over. After this attack, Destruct-A-Bubble appeared to lose mobility, so Rick pressed the pit release tyre. Shunt came out of its CPZ to axe the motionless bubble shaped machine, even though it had not been counted out and officially deemed immobilised yet. Rick flipped Destruct-A-Bubble over and pushed it across the arena, and Shunt once again came out of his CPZ to attack Destruct-A-Bubble with his axe, this time doing so twice. Refbot gave Shunt a red card and started counting out Destruct-A-Bubble, although Rick flipped the beaten machine over and rolled it into the pit before the countdown could be completed.

Craig Charles: "How do you think you're going to take him [Razer] on, I mean, have you got a strategy"

Francis Gallagher: "[After a pause] Keep them running"

Craig Charles: "Keep them running? What you mean is, just keep running away! Try and get through five minutes, maybe flip them if you can?"

Francis Gallagher: "Depends."

— Post-battle interview about facing Razer

Rick comes under attack from Razer and Shunt

This victory meant Rick advanced to the Heat Final, where it was very much the underdog, facing the number 4 seed and reigning World Champion Razer, who repeatedly punctured Rick and eventually immobilised it. Rick was counted out by Refbot before being flung across the arena by the floor flipper. Despite Razer being pitted by Sir Killalot, Rick was out of the Fifth Wars.

"Are we about to see Rick, here, flung through the air? We are. An unworthy ending to a worthy heat finalist-ha ha ha! How could they enjoy seeing that?! Great fun, though, and that's what Robot Wars is all about."

— Jonathan Pearce on Rick's elimination and then Ian Aldridge's reactions

Nickelodeon

Rick lifts Bigger Brother onto the wall

In the Nickelodeon series, Rick fought alongside Ming 3 in the International Tag Team Terror competition, representing the UK. In their UK qualifier, the pair went up against fellow UK representatives, Bigger Brother and Kat 3. Rick started the battle in the Arena, where it sustained damage from Kat 3's axe before turning it over, meaning Bigger Brother had to come out and flip its teammate back over. After this, all four robots were in the arena. Towards the end of the battle, Rick flipped Bigger Brother over, and tried to lift it out of the arena by pressing it against the pit release button. Cease was called, and the Judges decided that Rick and Ming 3 had narrowly won the battle.

Rick pushes The Revolutionist into the CPZ

Rick, prior to being dumped out of the arena by Sir K

In the Final, Rick and Ming 3 took on the American team, The Revolutionist and Spin Doctor. Early on, The Revolutionist rebounded off Ming 3 and onto the wedge of Rick. Rick drove The Revolutionist into the wall of the CPZ and flipped it over. Spin Doctor was left fighting two British machines, and it made little attempt to attack. When Rick drove near Sir K, Rick was picked up and dumped out of the arena.

"Sir K just picks Rick up and chucks him out of the arena! He wasn't even in the Corner Patrol Zone and I bet the judges will have something to say about that!"

— Stefan Frank as Rick is dropped out of the arena by Sir K

This was deemed an unfair attack by the Judges, so cease was called, and the Judges made a decision based on the events of the battle up to Rick's unfair removal from the battle. Rick and Ming 3 were declared the winners of the Tag Team Terror.

Extreme 2

Philippa Forrester: "Now, you've got experience on your side, because how many times have you been in? Countless, is it?"

Francis Gallagher: "Yeah, every time we've been in."

Philippa Forrester: "So most of the other teams you're competing against today don't have that experience. Does that make feel a lot better"

Francis Gallagher: "A bit more confident, yeah."

— Pre-Round 1 interview

Rick flips Tetanus 2 over

Rick fought in the Minor Meltdown. It soundly dispatched of Tetanus 2 by flipping it over. Tetanus 2 vainly attempted to use its srimech. After a battle of tussling, Rick flipped Tetanus 2 again, which was then pitted by Killer Carrot 2, putting Rick through to the next round.

Philippa Forrester: "Now, last time you were quite confident, weren't you? This time, are you quaking a bit?"

Francis Gallagher: "Well, it should be a good, easy target."

Philippa Forrester: "Do you think? The Bigger Brother Robot, and Joe driving it? They can chuck people out! Do you reckon you can?"

Francis Gallagher: "We could him have him out!"

— Confidence Pre-battle

Rick avoids Bigger Brother's flip

Rick on the brink of oblivion

In Round 2, it met the most experienced team in Bigger Brother. It still put up a strong fight, but failed to cause any lasting impression on Bigger Brother. The Watts machine flipped Rick over, and despite being invertible, Rick could not use its flipper when upside down. Rick broke down in the CPZ, and was attacked by the House Robots and pitted by the blade-less Dead Metal.

"There are Southampton supporters in the Rick team. They used to play at The Dell, this is Robot Wars Hell for Rick! And the end is now imminent! Southampton now play at St. Mary's, and they [the Rick team] need a little bit of divine intervention, and a miracle or two, to stay in this!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Rick is counted out

Series 7

Jayne Middlemiss: "What are your tactics for getting through the first round?"

Ian Gallagher: "Just go at them hard!"

Jayne Middlemiss: "Yeah?"

Ian Gallagher: "Oh absolutely, yeah! No fear!"

— Pre-battle interview

Rick is almost flipped out of the arena

Rick continues to be flipped by Dantomkia

Rick returned for Series 7, and was placed in Heat C with King B Powerworks, Hassocks Hog 2 and the seeded Dantomkia. The opening clashes between Rick, Dantomkia and Hassocks Hog 2 were over in a flash, resulting in Hassocks Hog 2 being removed from the action after being flipped. Rick was unable to flip, and its clearance was abused by Dantomkia. After being pushed around by Dantomkia, Rick was very nearly thrown out of the arena. Rick ended up on its back, and could not self-right, making the flipper less effective. Rick continued to try and right itself, but was attacked by Dantomkia as well as King B Powerworks. Rick did manage to flip Dantomkia whilst they were attacking the immobile Hassocks Hog 2, but Dantomkia immediately self-righted. Dantomkia again came close to flipping Rick Out of the Arena, but failed and time ran out.

Rick is picked up by King B Powerworks

"Rick slammed! Dantomkia and King B together, almost like a Tag Team, on poor old Rick...Look at the damage caused to Rick...Rick I think will be the other decision excluded by the judges, because Dantomkia and King B Powerworks were just too strong"

— Jonathan Pearce

After a lot of time deliberating, Rick was eliminated on a split decision, so Dantomkia and King B Powerworks went through.

Results

Wins/Losses

• UK Wins: 2
• UK Losses: 4
• US Wins: 2
• US Losses: 0

Series Record

UK Series

• Rick in the pits during Series 5
• The Mavericks in Series 5
• Rick in Extreme 2
• Rick in Series 7
• Rick in the pits during Nickelodeon Robot Wars

1/5

Main Series	Rick Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Entered with Maverick
The Fifth Wars	Heat Final
The Sixth Wars	Did not enter
The Seventh Wars	Heat, Round 1
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Minor Meltdown, Round 2

US Series

US Series	Rick Series Record
Season 1	Did not enter
Season 2	Did not enter
Nickelodeon	International Tag Team Terror Champion

Trivia

Official Series 7 photo

• Of the fifty robots to return from Series 4 to compete in Series 5, Rick one of only ten to perform better in its Series 5 appearance. The others are Bigger Brother, Firestorm, Diotoir, Prizephita Mach 2, Kat 3, Reactor, Razer, Destruct-A-Bubble and Clawed Hopper.
• Rick is one of three UK machines to be unbeaten in Extreme Warriors, the other two being its Tag-Team Terror partner, Ming 3, and Pussycat, who won the War of Independence.