Them’s the rules for 2024

It’s almost as exciting as a second visit from Santa – the Speedway Control Bureau has published its 2024 regulations.

For us anoraks it’s 177 pages of technical bliss. But just in case it’s not your cup of tea berwickspeedway.com has pored over this year’s volume and picked out highlights to save you the bother.

You’re welcome!

Biggest change over the winter is to the way that averages are calculated. This season the BSN Trophy qualifying group fixtures contribute to the 20 meeting rolling averages – although the knockout stages, along with the KO Cup, play-offs and guest appearances will not.

Averages include meetings up to and including the 23^rd of each month and come into force on the first of each month.

Anyone riding in British speedway for the first time will achieve an average after six meetings, as will anyone returning on an established average achieved prior to 2022.

This year’s Cab Direct Championship team building was undertaken to a maximum of 38 points for the seven riders. From 1 May the points limit for team building will increase by 0.5% per month.

No changes to rider personnel can be made after a team has ridden 75% of its league fixtures except for riders returning after injury who can only replace their original replacement.

Riders replaced cannot be reintroduced to that side within 28 days.

Additional riders (formerly known as number eights) can only be used where a team is already operating rider-replacement and can only be a rider who has never achieved a Championship average of 4.00 or above and is not declared in a Premiership or Championship side. They also cannot be used to cover starting offences.

All tracks will have a two-minute countdown clock operated by referees. At the expiry of the two minutes all riders must be at the starting gate and ready to race.

In the event of an unsatisfactory start the riders a new two-minute warning will commence (rather than one-minute last season).

The end of season play-offs will feature the top four teams after the completion of fixtures, any ties on points being broken by points’ difference.

The team finishing top of the league will race fourth-placed and second v third with the highest placed finisher choosing whether to race the first leg at home or away.

Any club which hasn’t entered the National Development League or taking part in the National League Riders’ Development series must either compete in the Northern Junior League, Midland Development League or stage four second-half open invitation events featuring riders eligible to appear in the NDL but not declared in a Championship or Premiership side. The events must feature at least six heats.