MONSTER ENERGY SON – NEW FOR 2019 ...

As the 2019 Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations launches in Landshut, SpeedwayOfNations.com is your guide to the changes to this year’s competition.

With Russia winning their first-ever speedway world title in Wroclaw last summer, the Monster Energy SON is already part of the sport’s history. And its future is set to be exciting too following a winter revamp of the rules.

Following the two-day Final, there will still be a semi-final and grand final to decide the world champions, with the semis featuring the sides in second and third and the grand final featuring the top-placed team and the semi winners.

But should this year’s grand final end in a 3-3 draw, the advantage will no longer be given to the country occupying second and third place. One rider from each team – chosen by the team manager – will enter a run-off, with the winner landing the world title for their country.

There are also changes to the knock-out heats at the end of Race Off 1 and 2 and the semi-final on Final Day 2. If any of these races end 3-3, the advantage will be given to the country that finished higher in the standings over 21 heats – or 42 races in the case of the semi.

Under-21 riders are compulsory for the 2019 Monster Energy SON and must appear in at least one of their team’s heats in every meeting – including both days of the Final. If the under-21 hasn’t been tracked by their team manager before their team’s final programmed heat, they will automatically take the inside gate in that race.

A squad system has been introduced for this year, allowing each country to name up to three senior stars and two under-21s.

Changes can be made between Race Off 1 and 2 and the Finals, but team managers can only select from the riders named in their squad. Riders can only be added to a nation’s squad if one of their team is forced to withdraw due to injury, illness or other reasons approved by the FIM.

In a change for the Finals in Togliatti on July 20 and 21, warnings for riders who move at the start will no longer be carried over from day 1 to day 2, meaning they can be cautioned once on both days but will only be excluded if they commit two or more offences in the same meeting.

Excitement is building as 15 of the sport’s top teams get ready to battle it out to become world champions in Togliatti. But first, it’s off to Landshut and Manchester to decide the six teams heading to Russia to join the defending champions in that Final showdown.

For more information on the Monster Energy SON changes, watch our video guide with Nigel Pearson here: http://bit.ly/2HcRJ9i