BRITISH Supersport champion-elect Sam Lowes has revealed one of the secrets to his imperious form in 2010 – a leisurely round of golf.

Lowes heads to Croft in North Yorkshire leading the standings by a commanding 35 points following his superb victory at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Lincoln rider is hot favourite to claim the title and could even secure the crown this weekend with two rounds to spare if nearest rival James Westmoreland hits trouble.

Lowes' outstanding consistency – eight podium finishes in nine races – has propelled him to the top of the standings.

The 19-year-old's dream season has coincided with him taking up golf.

There may seem few similarities between risking your neck on a motorbike at 160mph and hacking your way around 18 holes, but Lowes insists taking up the game has psychological benefits when he swaps his clubs for his leathers.

"I play a lot of golf with Alex (his twin brother)," explained Lowes, who also uses a sports psychologist as part of his pre-race preparations.

"It helps with your mental attitude. Because I'm not the best at it – I have good shots and bad shots – it can be quite frustrating.

"But if you get frustrated in golf you make mistakes and it's the same with riding a bike.

"It's all about controlling yourself, like it is on a bike. If you get stressed out on a bike, you're never going to get anywhere.

"You need to stay calm, hit your lines and stay smooth. You've got to keep your head right because 50 per cent of racing is in your head.

"I'll do anything I can to help with that – and I enjoying doing it, which is the main thing.

"I'm getting quite good at it now and I got my best score the other day. It was nine over, which is quite good.

"I haven't got a handicap at the moment because I'm not a member of a club.

"But you can put your scores into a website and apparently I'm about 12."

However, putters, drivers and nine irons will be the last thing on Lowes' mind at Croft on Sunday.

Another podium finish would push him a step closer to the title and could even be enough to win the crown if CAME Yamaha's Westmoreland fails to score.

That would put Lowes more than 50 points clear with only a maximum of 50 available in the final two rounds at Silverstone and Oulton Park.

Westmoreland does have 'previous', having crashed out of the lead at Snetterton in July.

Lowes, though, doubts the championship will be settled this weekend.

"It would be mega to win it before the last race, but I'm not going to start saying stuff like that," he insisted.

"If I'm honest, I don't think I'll win it this weekend. It doesn't matter when I win, whether it's this weekend or on the last lap of the last race.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it (the title) because that's what I'm here to do.

"But when I get to Croft I'll try to put it out of my mind and just focus on getting a good set-up and race pace."