Meetings comprise eighteen competitors and two reserves. A draw is held to determine the riding order, and these numbers are worn on the race jackets.
The heat format is determined as follows:
| Heat | Red (Gate A) |
Blue (Gate B) |
White (Gate C) |
Y/B (Gate D) |
Green (Gate E) |
B/W (Gate F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2: | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 3: | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 4: | 3 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 10 |
| 5: | 16 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 13 |
| 6: | 4 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 14 | 7 |
| 7: | 18 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| 8: | 5 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 4 |
| 9: | 14 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| Semi-Final: | 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th & 12th placed riders after Heat 9 | |||||
| Semi-Final: | 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th & 11th placed riders after Heat 9 | |||||
| Final: | 1st to 6th placed riders after the Semi-Finals | |||||
In the Qualification Heats, riders take the starting gate positions indicated. For the Semi-Finals and Final, gate positions are drawn by ballot. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate F is on the outside.
Where two or more riders are tied on race points after the Qualification Heats or Semi-Finals, the tie is resolved as follows:
Final placings are determined by race points scored over all heats, including the Semi-Finals and Final. A runoff is held if two or more riders are tied on points for first, second or third place. In official championships, a runoff is also held if there is a tie for a final qualifying or reserve position.
During the Qualification Heats, the reserves may alternately take the rides of any incapacitated rider, replace any rider excluded for a starting infringement, or replace any rider excluded for exceeding the three minute time allowance. Each reserve may ride in a maximum of three Qualification Heats.
The reserves for the Semi-Finals are those riders placed 13th and below after the Qualification Heats. The reserves for the Final are those riders placed 7th and below after the Semi-Finals.