The wife and personal trainer of Alex Barros, second with Tadayuki Okada at the 8 Hours, claimed that Honda rigged the race so that the more popular team of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards would win.

Barros, his wife, and personal trainer felt the pit stop 'accident' was no accident. It was a deliberate action on the part of Honda staff to gain favor with Valentino Rossi, the current superstar of roadracing.

The two man teams in the 8 Hours ride an hour each. Riding assignments scheduled Edwards and Barros to ride the even numbered hours, which meant the final hours of the race.

During the second hour of the race Edwards maintained a steady five seconds or so on Barros. In the fourth and sixth hours Barros was able to close on Colin at will, and was particularly strong on the second half of the lap. Barros, it seemed, had an advantage over Edwards. If the race was close at the beginning of the last hour, looked capable of handling any pace Edwards could run.

Barros' camp claimed two decisions were taken by Honda to throw the advantage to Edwards.

First, Honda told Barros that he had to do an 'oil charge'; that is, add extra engine oil, at the last pit stop. The other two Honda teams (Edwards/Rossi and Ukawa/Kato) did not have to do the oil charge.

Second, that Honda pit crew intentionally lowered the bike from the jack stand before the rear axle was fully installed. This necessitated lifting the bike again to finish the wheel change, and kept Barros a minute in the pits.

Barros, his wife, and personal trainer felt the pit stop 'accident' was no accident. It was a deliberate action on the part of Honda staff to gain favor with Valentino Rossi, the current superstar of roadracing.

Colin Edwards, when told of this, said Barros' claim was "bullsh*t".