Teams comprise five riders including a non-programmed reserve. Team A is numbered 1 to 5, Team B is numbered 6 to 10, Team C is numbered 11 to 15, whilst Team D is numbered 16 to 20. The reserves take Nos. 5, 10, 15 and 20, and there are no restrictions on who may ride in these positions.
The heat format is determined as follows:
| Heat | Red (Gate A) |
Blue (Gate C) |
Y/B (Gate B) |
White (Gate D) |
| 1: | 1 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 2: | 11 | 4 | 12 | 3 |
| 3: | 8 | 14 | 9 | 13 |
| 4: | 11 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| 5: | 3 | 9 | 4 | 8 |
| 6: | 6 | 14 | 7 | 13 |
| 7: | 1 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
| 8: | 13 | 4 | 14 | 3 |
| 9: | 6 | 12 | 7 | 11 |
| 10: | 13 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
| 11: | 8 | 12 | 9 | 11 |
| 12: | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| 13: | 6 | 12 | 9 | 13 |
| 14: | 1 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| 15: | 11 | 2 | 14 | 3 |
| 16: | 13 | 1 | 12 | 4 |
| 17: | 3 | 9 | 2 | 6 |
| 18: | 8 | 14 | 7 | 11 |
Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
A reserve may have a maximum of six rides that can be taken at any time. They may not however, replace riders excluded for starting infringements or exceeding the two minute time allowance. All exclusions count as rides.
No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.
Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final team placings. Where two or more teams are tied for a place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff.