Teams may comprise either three riders including a programmed reserve, or four riders including a non-programmed reserve. Team A is numbered 1 to 3 (and 16), Team B is numbered 4 to 6 (and 17), Team C is numbered 7 to 9 (and 18), Team D is numbered 10 to 12 (and 19), whilst Team E is numbered 13 to 15 (and 20).
The reserves are programmed at Nos. 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 in three-rider competitions, or take Nos. 16 to 20 in four-rider competitions. There are no restrictions on who may ride in these positions unless competition rules state otherwise.
The heat format is determined as follows:
| Heat | Red (Gate A) |
Blue (Gate B) |
White (Gate C) |
Y/B (Gate D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| 2: | 13 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| 3: | 11 | 14 | 3 | 6 |
| 4: | 9 | 12 | 15 | 1 |
| 5: | 8 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| 6: | 2 | 9 | 14 | 4 |
| 7: | 5 | 11 | 7 | 15 |
| 8: | 12 | 13 | 4 | 8 |
| 9: | 14 | 1 | 10 | 5 |
| 10: | 7 | 2 | 11 | 13 |
| 11: | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| 12: | 10 | 5 | 13 | 7 |
| 13: | 3 | 15 | 9 | 11 |
| 14: | 6 | 13 | 1 | 8 |
| 15: | 7 | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| 16: | 15 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 17: | 8 | 14 | 11 | 1 |
| 18: | 13 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 19: | 1 | 5 | 14 | 11 |
| 20: | 10 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| The following heats are added for two-day meetings: | ||||
| 21: | 3 | 11 | 4 | 13 |
| 22: | 2 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| 23: | 14 | 7 | 1 | 10 |
| 24: | 12 | 8 | 3 | 15 |
| 25: | 10 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 26: | 11 | 15 | 6 | 7 |
| 27: | 5 | 14 | 8 | 2 |
| 28: | 6 | 7 | 12 | 13 |
| 29: | 15 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 30: | 13 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 31: | 7 | 4 | 11 | 14 |
| 32: | 1 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 33: | 4 | 10 | 2 | 14 |
| 34: | 8 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| 35: | 9 | 10 | 13 | 6 |
| 36: | 2 | 7 | 15 | 12 |
| 37: | 11 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| 38: | 5 | 3 | 14 | 7 |
| 39: | 4 | 11 | 13 | 1 |
| 40: | 14 | 8 | 10 | 2 |
Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
Unless competition rules state otherwise, a reserve may have a maximum of six rides (per day in a two-day meeting) that can be taken at any time. All exclusions count towards the maximum number of rides.
Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final placings. Where two or more teams are tied for first, second or third place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff. Ties for other places are resolved by: