November 17th 2006
Front Row Start for Steve at Macau GP.

Steve has qualified for a front row start to the 40th annual Macau Grand Prix that runs today (Saturday) at 3pm – 7am GMT.

Plater who is riding the AIM Yamaha R1 began his practise and qualifying on Thursday in overcast conditions following some sporadic rain early on.

Thursday morning’s free practise saw the circuit dry but with damp patches and Steve gently eased himself into re-acquainting himself with the circuit and finding his way around to end the session in sixth place.

“It is my first time on a Superbike around the course,” said Steve. “I rode the Sanyo Honda 500 v-twin here in 1998 and returned with Honda Racing in the Supersport class in 2003 so I decided to take it easy and build up my confidence.”

Thursday afternoon saw Steve again take to the track for the 45-minute opening qualifying session where he went out on race tyres to move up into third place behind six-times winner Michael Rutter and Ian Hutchinson on the Stobart Honda bikes.

The weather on Friday held out and although overcast it was dry with a track temperature of 24 degrees. Plater completed the hour long session in first place but his time was not quite as quick as Rutter’s from the previous day and so he will line up in second place on the grid in front of John McGuinness for the start of today’s 15-lap race.

“The track was slippery for a while but improved later on in the session and I was able to put in some quick times,” said Steve. “I just hope the rain stays away for the race as they don’t race in the wet over here, its all slick tyres and dry weather racing.”