There have been some real hocus-pocus smoke and mirrors slight of hand put about by various race bike manufacturers as well.
One routine relates to a ceramic bearing which was said to be so smooth that once set in motion the wheel would never stop turning.
The other was said to directly have to do with the bike itself whereby it was alleged that the combination of lift & whatever that was provided by its design actually served to propell the horse forward...in effect the race bike becoming a source of energy ala the motor in a car etc.
Both claims were of course absolute bullshit of course as they both defy the basic laws of physics.