Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has began its preparations for the 2013 AMA Pro Superbike Championship with an off-season testing program in Florida, and Cory West, Aaron Yates and Blake Young are helping EBR-contracted racer Geoff May carry the testing load. May and West (an AMA Pro racer who now works full-time at the EBR factory) tested chassis settings, shocks, brake pads and both Dunlop and Pirelli tires on AMA Pro Superbike-spec EBR 1190RS racebikes during a Penguin Roadracing School/track day and CCS Florida race weekend November 30 December 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Yates, a former AMA Pro Supersport and Superstock Champion, also attended one day of that test, November 30, at the invitation of the team. Yates had to leave early, however, to fulfill a previously-arranged commitment. After the test, Yates told Roadracingworld.com that he was in discussions with EBR about racing for the team in 2013. The Wisconsin-based team returned to Florida’s Jennings GP racetrack this week, December 18-19, to continue its testing program with May and a flu-stricken Yates. And Blake Young, whose contract with Yoshimura Suzuki recently expired, “stopped by” for the second day of the test, according to a member of the EBR team who asked to remain anonymous. At Jennings GP, May continued trying a wide range of chassis combinations to learn more about his Amsoil-sponsored 1190RS, and Yates worked on setting up the American-made Superbike to suit him while providing feedback to the team. Young, meanwhile, just wanted to “try an EBR out” for himself, according to our source, and later said he liked it even though it was very different than what he was used to. EBR has not finalized its 2013 racing plans yet, said the source. Young has not responded to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him on his cell phone.