There will be no more drawn heats in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations after changes to the world championship pairs competition were confirmed for 2020 onwards.
Riders will now be awarded four points for winning a heat, with three points for second place, two for third and no points for last place, being disqualified or failing to complete the race.
As a result, if a team finishes second and third in a race, they will win the heat 5-4, rewarding the countries that produce the best team performance and avoid last places.
The changes mean that if a country claims second and third spot in the Grand Final, they will be crowned world champions, even if one of their rivals won the heat ‰ÛÒ ensuring there will be no need for a title-deciding run-off.
Steven Gould, vice president and managing director of BSI Speedway at IMG Events, hopes the changes will offer greater clarity for everyone following the action.
‰ÛÏThe Monster Energy SON is a competition where team riding is vital and to reward this, we have changed the scoring system to ensure the countries that perform best as a pair come out on top," Gould stated.
‰ÛÏWith no drawn heats, it will be much easier for fans to work out which country wins a race, finishes highest on countback in the event of a tie on overall points and ultimately claims the world title.
‰ÛÏWe‰Ûªre looking forward to some fantastic racing as the Monster Energy SON gets started with the Semi-Finals in Landshut on April 25 and Daugavpils on May 2, before the competition culminates with a thrilling final at Manchester‰Ûªs National Speedway Stadium on May 8 and 9.‰Û
