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SGP2
Championship rules

Summary

SGP format - The basicsChampionship formatLine-upQualifyingRacing rulesBikes

SGP format - The basics

  • Every FIM Speedway Grand Prix round features 16 riders, racing each other over 20 high-intensity heats.
  • Each heat features four riders taking four laps of the track – with all the action crammed into around ONE MINUTE.
  • The winning rider in each heat scores three race points, with two for second place, one for third and zero points for last place, being disqualified or failing to finish.
  • The two riders with the most race points progress automatically to the final.
  • The riders placed third to 10th on the score chart advance to the last-chance qualifiers - LCQ1 and LCQ2, with the winner of each also reaching the final.
  • The winner of the final is the FIM Speedway Grand Prix winner.
  • SGP2 events follow the same 23-heat racing format as Speedway GP, with last-chance qualifiers and finals. SGP3 and SGP4 events are contested over a straight 20 heats, with the highest-scoring rider declared the winner and no semis or final.

Championship format

  • The winning rider at a Speedway GP event earns the top prize of 20 championship points, with 18 for second, 16 for third and 14 for fourth.
  • Riders are guaranteed seven championship points for reaching the last-chance qualifiers - LCQ1 and LCQ2.
  • The two second-placed riders in LCQ1 and LCQ2 earn 11 or 12, with the highest-scoring of those two riders in the first 20 heats earning 12. The third-placed riders score nine or 10, with the highest-scoring of those two riders in the heats handed 10. The fourth-placed riders score seven or eight, with the highest-scoring of those two riders in the heats handed eight.
  • The riders ranked 11th and below after 20 heats are awarded championship points on a sliding scale, with six points picked up by the rider placed 11th in the classification and one going to the rider in 16th.
  • If riders are tied for a position in a Speedway GP round, the countback system is used, with the rider registering the most race wins ranked highest.
  • If they are tied on race wins, seconds, then thirds and fourth places are taken into consideration – with a fourth place deemed better than a retirement or disqualification.
  • If this does not resolve the tie, the rider who registered the fastest race time of the tied riders - regardless of whether or not they won the heat - is placed highest.
  • If the riders are still deadlocked, the rider with the highest Speedway GP World Championship position out of the tied riders ahead of that day's event is placed highest. If two or more riders have failed to score championship points or the tie occurs at round one, the rider with the highest FIM ranking will be placed highest.
  • The rider who scores the most FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship points over a season is crowned world champion.
  • If at the end of the final round riders are tied on championship points for first place, a run-off for the Speedway GP World Championship will be staged.
  • If riders are tied for any other positions, the rider who achieved the most Speedway GP victories over a season will be placed higher.
  • If this does not resolve the tie, the number of second places over the season is considered, followed by thirds, fourths, fifth places and so on. In the event the tied riders have identical Speedway GP records, the highest-placed rider in the final round of the season will be placed highest.
  • The SGP2 championship, contested over three rounds, follows the Speedway GP format. SGP3 and SGP4 are contested over a single event, with the highest-scoring rider after 20 heats declared the winner.

Line-up

  • The top six riders in the Speedway GP World Championship earn automatic qualification for the following year’s series.
  • They are joined by the top four riders from the FIM SGP Challenge – the last round of the Speedway GP qualification competition. If any of the top four finishers in the FIM SGP Challenge end the season in the Speedway GP World Championship's top six, the highest-placed rider or riders in the Challenge who are yet to qualify for Speedway GP will also take their place in the series.
  • The Speedway European Championship winner is also guaranteed a place in the following season’s Speedway GP series.
  • The line-up is completed by four permanent wild cards selected by the SGP Commission. If the SEC winner finishes inside the Speedway GP top six, five permanent wild cards will be chosen.
  • The SGP Commission also nominates a list of substitute riders, who will be called into Speedway GP events if any of the 15 permanent riders are forced out of a round due to injury, illness or other reasons.
  • Every Speedway GP round also features one wild card, who completes the main 16-rider line-up.
  • In addition to the main 16 riders, two track reserves are also nominated for each round. They step in if a rider is forced out of a race due to injury or illness, or after being disqualified for a starting offence.

Qualifying

  • FIM Speedway Grand Prix Qualifying has been transformed for 2025 and features exciting new head-to-head battles and SIX sprint races across the season.
  • Before every Qualifying session, riders will take to the track for two two-minute free practice runs (FP1 and FP2).
  • All 16 riders will then be drawn into pairs for Q1, which sees them battle it out in a head-to-head, 60-second showdown. The rider who clocks the fastest lap time advances to Q2, where they face another 60-second head-to-head battle. 
  • At the 2025 rounds in Landshut, Warsaw, Manchester, Gorzow, Cardiff and Wroclaw, the riders who record the fastest lap time in their Q2 head-to-head advance to a four-rider sprint race.
  • The winner of the sprint race earns four Speedway GP World Championship points, with three for the rider in second, two for third and one for fourth place. The sprint race winner will also earn first choice of starting positions for the evening’s SGP event, with the second, third and fourth-placed riders next to select.
  • There will be no sprint races at the events in Prague, Malilla, Riga and Vojens due to these four venues staging SGP2 or SGP3 action on Friday evening. The Qualifying session at these rounds will culminate in Q3, with all four riders taking to the track at the same time for 60 seconds, bidding to set the fastest lap time. 
  • No SGP World Championship points will be on the line in Q3, but the rider with the fastest lap time earns first choice of starting positions for the evening’s event, with those placed second, third and fourth next to choose.
  • The four riders who exit Qualifying in Q2 are next to choose their starting positions – in an order determined by their fastest lap times. Finally, the eight riders eliminated in Q1 then choose starting positions – again, in an order determined by their fastest lap times.
  • If two or more riders clock the same fastest lap time, the rider whose second fastest lap time is quicker will be placed higher.
  • All 16 starting numbers ensure every rider starts from each of the four gates at least once. But they will start from one gate twice – and a big performance in Qualifying hands them the best chance to ensure they have the right starting positions at the right time. This can be a huge advantage!
  • Qualifying also takes place at SGP2 events - allowing FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship stars to race the clock and battle for the best possible starting positions - just as they will when they reach Speedway GP. Riders in SGP3 and SGP4 events will take part in a non-competitive practice session, with their starting numbers allocated by a random FIM draw.
  • If a Qualifying session is cut short and a sprint race does not take place for any reason, no additional Speedway GP World Championship points will be awarded for that session.
  • If a sprint race is completed but a rider or riders fail to finish the heat, they are ranked according to the order they retired from or were disqualified from the race. For example, if a rider hits the starting tapes and is disqualified, they are awarded fourth place and one championship point. If a rider then retires during the re-run, they are awarded third place and two championship points.
  • If Qualifying cannot be staged in full, for example due to rain, the results recorded during any completed Qualifying blocks will determine who earns first choice of starting numbers.
  • In the event that Qualifying cannot be staged at all or Q1 is not completed, the random FIM draw used to determine the starting order for Qualifying will determine riders' starting numbers for the Speedway GP.

Racing rules

  • Four riders line up in each race, each wearing a different helmet colour – red, blue, white or yellow. The rider in red starts on the inside in gate one, with blue starting from gate two, white on gate three and yellow lining up in gate four on the outside.
  • The countdown to a race begins when the FIM referee starts the two-minute clock. At the end of this two-minute deadline, riders must be at the tapes and ready to race – otherwise they face being disqualified.
  • In the event of a restart due to an unsatisfactory start, the FIM race director has the option to reduce the time allowed to one minute.
  • Once the four riders have been lined up by the start marshal, the referee turns on the green light to put them under starter’s orders. The tapes will then be released by a randomised electronic system.
  • If riders touch the starting tapes, they are disqualified. If a rider is adjudged by the referee to have moved before the tapes lifted, they are handed an official warning. If they move or touch the tapes again during the same Speedway GP event, they are automatically disqualified.
  • When the tapes lift, an intense minute of action gets underway as four riders battle it out over four furious laps.
  • If a rider or riders fall, and the race is stopped, the FIM referee will disqualify the rider they deem to have caused the stoppage. If the incident occurs on the first turn, the referee has the option to invite all of the riders back for the restart if they believe no-one was at fault.
  • If a rider crosses the white inside line fully with both wheels or leaves the circuit, they are adjudged to have retired from the race – unless they left the track to take essential avoiding action (e.g. to avoid a fallen rider).

Bikes

  • Unlike in other motorcycle sports, speedway bikes have NO BRAKES – riders make their turns by power sliding through the corners.
  • Speedway GP and SGP2 bikes have 500cc engines and run on pure methanol – a clean-burning fuel which delivers breathtaking performance.
  • Bikes accelerate off the start line faster than a Formula 1 car!
  • Rear tyres could be used for as few as one or two races as teams seek that fresh edge to ensure ultimate grip off the start line. Some riders opt to use a new tyre for every heat – others use a rear tyre for two races, turning it after its first race to get a fresh edge.
  • Riders can bring as many bikes as they wish to a Speedway GP round – two are placed in the pits, with any others held in a standby area near the pits. Riders usually bring three bikes.
  • Every bike has one fixed gear, with teams able to change these sprockets between races in their search for speed.
  • Riders and their teams can make other adjustments to the bike including changing the ignition timing, switching the carburettor jet and moving the rear wheel back or forward in a bid to increase or reduce traction to suit track conditions.
  • Engine tuners also play a key role in boosting speed – servicing motors and ensuring they are fitted with parts that deliver high performance and can endure the extreme pressures they face in a speedway race.
  • Motors are also fitted with rev limiters to protect the engines and increase their service life.
  • For SGP3 - the FIM Speedway Youth World Championship for under-16 riders, 250cc bikes are used.
  • And in the new SGP4 class - the FIM Speedway Youth World Cup for riders aged 11-13, FIM Speedway's youngest stars compete on the 190cc SGP4 bike, designed by six-time FIM Speedway world champion Tony Rickardsson. CLICK HERE for more information.