The Ultimate Speedway Betting Guide

Meeting Winner

The outright market is the most obvious form of speedway betting. Meetings are run over 15 heats/races and the team with the most points at the end of the meeting scores points toward the league table.

It’s a popular bet for meetings in the UK’s SGB Premiership and Poland’s Ekstraliga, as you are betting on which team will come out on top after 15 high-octane heats/races between elite riders.

Handicap Betting

Handicap betting can make meetings with a superior team more equal and interesting to bet on. You’re betting on which team will win the match after the handicap scores have been applied.

For example, the Swindon Robins may be -3.5 favourites against the Poole Pirates. This means the Pirates start the meeting with a theoretical +3.5 advantage. If you back the Robins, they must win by 4 points or more.

Correct Score

If you’re feeling ambitious, why not predict the correct score of the meeting? Speedway betting odds for the correct score are extremely generous given how many factors can influence heats/races, so you could reap the rewards with a big win.

Bookmakers usually have a clause in their T&Cs stating that all heats must be completed for bets to stand. Bets will be made void if the number of heats is reduced.

Over/Under Rider Points

Another popular speedway betting market is over/under rider points. As the name of the bet suggests, you’re betting on whether the points accumulated by a rider in the meeting will be over or under a certain number.

For example, the bookmaker may set the over/under for Tai Woffinden at 10.5. If you bet over, he must accumulate 11 points or more. If you bet under, he must score 10 points or fewer.

Speedway of Nations

Betting on the Speedway World Cup is no longer possible, as the Speedway of Nations has replaced the event on the sport’s calendar. Seven national teams compete in the event, with each national team represented by two riders. Each pairing rides against each other once, with the combined total of each pair used to determine the outcome. Russia has dominated the competition since it was formed in 2018.

Speedway Grand Prix

Speedway Grand Prix are a series of standalone events that take place over the course of a season to determine the Speedway World Champion. Following a series of 20 heats, the top eight scorers advance to a semi-final, with the first and second placed riders from each semi-final advancing to the GP final. You can view the latest Speedway GP betting odds by visiting any of the bookmakers listed on this page.

Speedway European Championship

This annual individual speedway event is organised by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) to determine the champion of Europe. Sixteen competitors from the UK, Poland, Denmark and other countries where speedway is popular compete over four rounds in a Grand Prix format, with the winner being the rider who accumulates the most points. Previous winners include Robert Lambert and Mikkel Michelsen.

Domestic Competitions

Of course, online bookmakers also offer betting odds on major speedway leagues such as the UK’s SGB Premiership, Poland’s Ekstraliga and Sweden’s Elitserien. The Polish league has been called the “richest and most popular speedway league in the world”. The Ekstraliga also boasts the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland, highlighting how popular speedway is in the country.

Understand Speedway Betting Rules

Not all online bookmakers apply the same speedway betting rules. It’s imperative that you read the small print to avoid any confusion over how your bets will be settled if circumstances behind an event or market change.

For instance, some bookmakers will void your bet if a rider retires from the event after one race even through injury. Knowing the rules means you’ll know what to expect in this scenario.

Follow Social Media Accounts

Social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter give you a chance to connect with your favourite teams and riders. Besides interacting with speedway superstars, you will get a glimpse into their daily life and read about their latest results on the track.

Injury news is also shared through these channels, meaning a notification can help you make better decisions when betting on speedway online.

Check the Weather Forecast

Speedway races are often delayed or interrupted because of bad weather, especially in the UK and Poland. As the dirt tracks are open, the atmosphere can wreak havoc with speedway schedules.

When it rains on the racing day or a day before, the track will be wet and muddy, increasing the risk of riders losing control of their machines. If it’s nice and dry, you can be confident that all the races will go ahead.

Consider Rider Activity

Speedway superstars often travel hundreds of kilometres across Europe, competing in multiple events each week. Although this means the rider should be sharp and on top of their game, it also increases the likelihood of injury.

Will a returning rider need a few races to get up to speed with the action? Or will he put in a performance worthy of a champion? Ask these questions before betting on speedway races.