He lapped in an impressive 2mins 27.986secs just 0.4secs off the lap record set last year by six times Macau winner, Michael Rutter.
Hot on Plater's heels was 13 times TT John McGuinness riding for the Stobart Honda team. McGuinness got off to a steady start in free practice when technical niggles were hampering his progress. Last year McGuinness didn't achieve a podium finish a fact he will be out to rectify this time round.
Rutter on the Avia Kawasaki had to settle for third place as he was out paced by the top two. He had dominated the top step of the podium in Macau until Plater stole his glory, this time he will be all out for the win.
Fast talking Guy Martin put his Solent Scientific Honda into fourth place. Martin would love to up set the apple cart by beating the well known top three.
With Brits in the top four positions, Thomas Hinterreiter the Austrian endurance rider took up fifth place. He was followed by the American contingent of Jeremy Toye and Mark Millar.
Steve Allan made his return to track action following a year out, to qualify in eighth place amongst the Superbikes but first 600 home on the AIM Yamaha. The Scott has already claimed a 600 victory in Macau and will no doubt be out to do it all again.
Ian Hutchinson riding for Stobart Honda put in a sterling effort to finish in ninth as he is riding with a recently broken collar bone. He crashed while testing at Darley Moor and had to have the injury pinned and plated.
Completing the top ten was Les Shand on the BTS Honda, two years ago Shand picked up third place in a stunningly determined ride, since then he has had bad luck and numerous crashes.
Martin Finnegan who is riding the MV Augusta in Macau for the first time suffered an engine problem which left him stranded out on the circuit. "I had just latched on to Rutter when something went amiss and I had no choice but to park it up," he said. This left him in a lowly 14th position ahead of second qualifying.
Macau GP qualifying (1) times – Guia:
1. Steve Plater
2. John McGuinness
3. Michael Rutter
4. Guy Martin
5. Thomas Hinterreiter
6. Jeremy Toye
7. Mark Millar
8. Steve Allan (600)
9. Ian Hutchinson
10. Les Shand
