2023 MONSTER ENERGY FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP FORMAT REVEALED

By popular demand in the season speedway celebrates its 100th anniversary, FIM Speedway global promoter Discovery Sports Events brings back the sport’s most historic team competition, first launched as the FIM Speedway World Team Cup in 1960.

Last contested in 2017, the Monster Energy FIM SWC features nine countries, with Poland seeded through to the Final at Wroclaw’s iconic Olympic Stadium on Saturday, July 29 as host nation.

Australia, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and tournament debutants France contest the Semi-Finals after qualifying via the 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations, with the draw for Semi-Final 1 on July 25 and Semi-Final 2 on July 26 to be confirmed in due course.

The winner of each Semi-Final joins Poland in the Monster Energy FIM SWC Final, with the second and third-placed sides contesting the Race Off on Friday, July 28. The winner of this event completes the Final four that will compete to become 2023 FIM Speedway world team champions.

Each team features five riders – four starters and one reserve at No.5, who is no longer required to be an under-21. Riders take a maximum of six rides each – five regular rides plus the option to take one tactical substitute ride if permitted.

Tactical substitutions are only allowed by team managers if their side has fallen six or more points behind the leading nation as they bid to close the gap. The tactical joker option previously available in the Monster Energy FIM SWC, allowing a rider to race for double points, has been dropped.

No.5 reserve riders can be thrown into action by their team manager at any time during the event, taking a maximum of five rides plus one tactical substitute outing if their team falls six or more points behind the leaders.

Team managers have another big decision to make towards the end of a Monster Energy FIM SWC event as they must nominate their riders for heats 17 to 20 – selecting one rider for each race.

The team manager whose side is in fourth place selects first, with the third-placed team selecting next, followed by the second-placed side. The leading nation nominates their riders last – giving them an advantage as they will be able to see which opponents feature in which races.

FIM Speedway race director Phil Morris believes making the right tactical decisions at the right time could be crucial in the race for Monster Energy FIM SWC glory.

He said: “Team managers will be doing far more than filling in their scorecard in Wroclaw. With the option to track their No.5 rider as and when they wish, it gives them some big decisions to make.

“If a rider is struggling for form or suffers an injury, the chance is there to bring in their reserve and ensure the team is as strong as possible for every heat. The tactical substitute facility only enhances their options.

“There is also nothing to stop team managers from selecting one of their best riders at No.5 and bringing them into the meeting at the best possible moments to suit their team, whether that’s starting them from the best gates or against the strongest or weakest opponents.

“They can even take two, three or four rides in a row if their team manager wishes – as long as they only take five rides in total, with the option for a sixth if the team falls six points or more behind the leading nation.

“The new format will truly test both riders and team managers. But one thing is for sure: with all nine countries able to select their top five riders, we are set for an exciting and unpredictable week of racing in July.”

Each Monster Energy FIM SWC event will be contested over 20 heats, with three points for a race win, two for second, one for third and zero for finishing last, being disqualified or failing to finish. The country with the most points on the night wins the event.

Armando Castagna, FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP) director, looks forward to the Monster Energy FIM SWC’s return in Wroclaw.

He said: “The Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup is a very popular championship and it’s very appropriate that we are celebrating its return in the year our sport marks its 100th anniversary.

“Of course, Poland will be keen to lift the Ove Fundin Trophy for the ninth time as they race in front of a passionate home crowd.

“But we have seen Great Britain and Australia recently end long waits for world team titles in the FIM Speedway of Nations, and they will be hoping to repeat those successes in the Monster Energy FIM SWC.

“Other countries are emerging too. We saw Finland reach its first-ever FIM Speedway final of the 21st century in Vojens last year and France competes in its very first Monster Energy FIM SWC tournament this summer.

“This is great to see as we work with our partners at Discovery Sports Events to grow our great sport around the world and give new countries their chance to compete in our FIM Speedway championships.”

Laura Manciet, FIM Speedway championships director for Discovery Sports Events, commented: “Bringing back the Monster Energy FIM SWC and staging it every three years was a crucial part of our vision to elevate the sport.

“While the FIM Speedway of Nations has offered more countries a chance to compete on the world stage and it returns in 2024 and 2025, there was a clear demand from our fans around the world to bring back the Monster Energy FIM SWC format.

“Wroclaw staged the very first FIM SWC Final of the modern era in 2001 and it feels great to be bringing the tournament back to the Olympic Stadium this summer.

“In the year we celebrate a century of speedway, we are working very hard with our partners in Wroclaw and at the FIM to deliver a week of racing and entertainment that will live long in the memory.”

Tickets for the 2023 Monster Energy FIM SWC will be available in due course. Follow FIMSpeedway.com and @SpeedwayGP social media for further updates.

2023 FIM MONSTER ENERGY SWC RULES: KEY POINTS

• Nine nations compete in the 2023 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup.
• Hosts Poland are seeded into the Final, with Australia, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, France and Germany contesting the Semi-Finals after qualifying at the 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations.
• Each Monster Energy FIM SWC event features four countries, each with a team composed of five riders – four starters and a reserve at No.5.
• Each rider can take a maximum of six rides – five regular rides plus one tactical substitute ride.
• No.5 riders can replace any of their teammates in a heat at any time, taking a maximum of six rides – five regular rides plus one tactical substitute ride when permitted.
• Tactical substitutions are allowed when a team is six or more points behind the leading nation. Each rider can only take ONE tactical substitute ride.
• Every Monster Energy FIM SWC event is contested over 20 heats with three points for a heat win, two for second, one for third and zero for last place, being disqualified or failing to finish. The country with the most points at the end of the night wins the event.
• The line-ups for heats 17-20 are nominated by the team managers, with the team manager of the fourth-placed country selecting first and the manager of the leading nation nominating last.
• The winners of Semi-Finals 1 and 2 join hosts Poland in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final.
• The second and third-placed teams in Semi-Final 1 and 2 advance to the Race Off, where the winner also earns a place in the Final.
• The winner of the Monster Energy FIM SWC Final will be crowned world team champion for 2023.