IT is surely a case of when, not if, Sam Lowes becomes the British Supersport champion  after he took a monumental step towards the title at Cadwell Park.

The Lincoln rider produced another imperious ride to claim victory at his home race, extending his series lead over James Westmoreland to 35 points with just three rounds to go.

There is a mathematical possibility Lowes could secure the title at the next round at Croft, but Silverstone or the final encounter at Oulton Park are more likely to see the 19-year-old crowned the British Supersport king of 2010.

Nothing is ever certain of course, particularly in motorcycle racing, but if Lowes maintains his outstanding consistency over the remaining races, it is impossible to see Westmoreland, his only realistic rival, reeling him in.

Monday's victory was his third of the season and, remarkably, his eighth podium finish of a possible nine.

While he made his latest success look easy, it followed a far from straightforward weekend which saw him fall in practice on Saturday – slightly injuring his hand – and suffer mechanical problems during the warm-up session on Monday.

"It was very special to win at Cadwell," confessed the former North Kesteven School pupil.

"It was the first track I came to when I was younger, I've grown up here.

"It's my local track and there were a lot of people there. To come through the race like I did was awesome.

"I didn't do any laps in warm-up and I hurt my hand in a little crash in practice the other day.

"Mentally, it was great to come through that race and control it. It felt really good and has given me a lot more confidence."

After Lowes secured his first pole-position of the season, the race itself summed up the season as the CAME Yamahas of Westmoreland and Billy McConnell again flattered to deceive.

The GNS Racing Honda ace found himself in second on the first lap behind fast-starting Boston rider Ben Wilson, of Gearlink Kawasaki.

But Lowes took the lead on lap two with an aggressive move entering the Gooseneck. Seconds later, Wilson had dropped to third as McConnell stormed past with a reckless manoeuvre at the chicane.

The Australian, who had won at Cadwell on his previous two visits, then got past Lowes and looked set for another victory at the Wolds track.

However, McConnell, whose own title charge has faulted in the second half of the season, pushed too hard, crashing out at Mansfield on lap four.

"Billy came by me. He was the only one that could get near me," added Lowes.

"But I was holding station because I didn't need to beat Billy. I could tell how much he was pushing and he was never going to stay on it for 16 laps.

"There were a few spots of rain, nothing major, but the track wasn't perfect. To try to stay with him just wasn't worth it.

"The track was greasy all weekend because it was rainy, then dry, then rainy, then dry, so no rubber was getting put down.

"Corners like Mansfield are off camber so in conditions like that you have to be extra careful.

"When he went down, it slowed me down a bit because it reminded me I couldn't afford to do the same.

"But I'm a racer too and if you want to be champion you have to be fast all weekend and win races – that's what I've done."

Lowes was almost four seconds clear of Westmoreland, who had battled his way up to second after qualifying only seventh, when a red flag curtailed the race a lap early.

IN YOUR ECHO: Latest standings in all the race series in the British Superbikes