Speedway GP Qualifying enters a new era as a brand-new knockout format debuts at the WWK FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut at 14:00 CEST / 13:00 UK time this afternoon.
Fans can catch the action with live coverage on Max, HBO Max or discovery+ as riders battle for track time, first choice of starting positions for tonight, and, most importantly, Speedway GP World Championship points.
But how does it all work? Read FIMSpeedway.com’s guide to the first World Championship action of the 2025 season.
FEELING FREE
First off, all 16 riders involved in tonight’s Speedway GP take to the track for free practice (FP1 and FP2). Each rider, including the two track reserves, gets two blocks of two minutes to test their equipment, search for the fastest racing lines and generally get themselves set up for both Qualifying and racing.
PAIRING UP
The new Speedway GP Qualifying session is a knockout competition – just like a grand slam tennis tournament. But there’s a key difference – apart from the roar of 500cc bikes with no brakes! In Speedway GP, there are no seedings for Qualifying. Riders are drawn into pairs by a completely random FIM ballot for Q1.
This could result in an epic showdown between the Speedway GP World Championship’s top two in the first round, or maybe two riders from the same country. Any pair of SGP stars could be matched together for Q1, guaranteeing drama from the off.
The draw also determines who each rider will face if they are successful in Q1, showing their path through Qualifying – all the way to the sprint race or Q3.
QUALIFYING DUELS
Q1 features eight 60-second duels as each pair of riders takes to the track, bidding to set the fastest lap time.
The Speedway GP star who clocks the fastest lap of each pair advances to Q2, facing the winner of a pre-determined Q1 tie in another 60-second duel.
The winners of the four Q2 duels qualify for the finale to the session, which takes one of two forms …
SPRINT RACE
In Landshut, Warsaw, Manchester R4, Gorzow and Wroclaw, the four Q2 winners compete for Speedway GP World Championship points in a sprint race – a standard four-lap SGP race, but with high stakes.
The winner instantly earns FOUR Speedway GP World Championship points, with three for second, two for third and one for taking fourth place.
On top of this, the sprint race winner is handed first choice of starting positions for the evening’s Speedway GP – allowing them to ensure they can start from the best gates at the best possible time. While they start from every gate once, they will race from one of them twice. Two good jumps from the best starting position could help the sport’s top riders fight their way into the final.
If any rider fails to finish, they are placed fourth. Should multiple riders fail to finish, the one who retired or was disqualified first is placed lowest.
With riders able to score up to 20 Speedway GP World Championship points across five SGP sprint races this season, success in Qualifying could make all the difference to a rider’s title chances.
ALTERNATIVE ENDING: Q3
There will be no sprint races at any of the Speedway GP events, where action takes place on Friday.
Round five in Manchester on Saturday, June 14 will not feature a Qualifying session at all, due to round four taking place on Friday, June 13.
With SGP2 racing taking place ahead of the rounds in Malilla, Riga and Vojens and SGP3 being staged in Prague, the Qualifying sessions at these four venues will all culminate in Q3. All SGP2 Qualifying sessions also follow this format.
This sees all four Q2 winners take to the track at the same time for a 60-second timed shootout. The rider who clocks the fastest lap time will not earn Speedway GP World Championship points, but they still secure the all-important first choice of starting positions.
Start your Speedway GP race day early and tune into the Qualifying action from 14:00 CEST / 13:00 UK as the world’s best riders battle the clock and each other for Speedway GP World Championship points – and the first pick of starting positions. Get ready for some knockout track action!