FOR Ashley Birks, tonight’s British Final at Wolverhampton is all about having fun.

The Robins reserve put in a superb performance at home track Sheffield to make it through a tough semi-final, beating seven-time national champion Scott Nicholls in the scoring charts in the process.

Having only been involved in speedway for three years Birks isn’t expecting to challenge for the title this evening, and is just proud to have earned the chance to express himself at Monmore Green in his first year of being invited to compete in the event.

“I’m going in there to have some fun and to see what I can do, and I will give it everything I’ve got,” he said.

“I need to put all my experience and everything I’ve learnt into action and focus on the track, and try to beat as many people as I can and show people what I’m about.

“This meeting is definitely near the top of everything I have done in my career, but it all depends on how I do in it because there is no point being there and embarrassing myself.

“Being there and being in it is great, but now I need to go out there and perform.”

Birks admitted he is a little surprised to have made the final so quickly in his young career, but he has tried not to get ahead of himself by focusing too heavily on the meeting while he still had commitments for the Robins and Premier League side Scunthorpe.

“This is the first chance I have had to qualify for it, because I was a reserve last year and ended up getting one ride which I won,” he said.

“When I got to Sheffield I just wanted to do my best and to get through to the final, I have done that, and it’s great to be involved.

“I’m really looking forward to going there and getting going, although when you have a busy schedule of meetings it isn’t always on your mind.

“In the run up to it I have been trying to put it into the back of my mind, but I know when I get to the track I will start to feel it and get excited about the meeting.”