Tissot’s MotoGP Skeleton Chronograph: Automatic Value at $2,375

The Most Mechanical Tissot You Can Buy for Under $2,500

Most people know the T-Race as Tissot's loud, motorbike-inspired sports watch. Every year since the early 2000s, Tissot has released limited editions to celebrate its partnership with MotoGP, the world's top motorcycle racing championship.

Most of those watches are quartz. This one isn't. The T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph puts a serious mechanical chronograph movement on show behind a see-through dial, and it does it for less than many brands charge for a plain three-hand automatic.

We've already compared the quartz and automatic MotoGP models in our T-Race MotoGP guide. This article goes deeper on the automatic alone: what makes the skeleton movement special, how it stacks up against other Swiss automatic chronographs, and whether it's really good value.

A Quick Note on Price

You'll see this watch listed at very different prices online. Tissot's US site lists it at $2,375. In Switzerland, it's CHF 1,965. Some international listings and regional retailers quote higher figures, up to around $2,650, depending on currency and local taxes. Authorised retailers and the secondary market sometimes sell it a little below US list. We use Tissot's official $2,375 throughout.

T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph at a Glance

• Reference: T141.462.27.051.00
• Price: $2,375 (US), CHF 1,965
• Limited edition: 2,026 numbered pieces
• Case: 45mm 316L stainless steel with black PVD coating, 14.79mm thick
• Bezel: brake-disc-inspired design with a carbon composite ring
• Dial: skeleton (see-through), with Super-LumiNova on the hands
• Movement: Swiss automatic Valjoux A05.951
• Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz)
• Power reserve: up to 68 hours
• Chronograph: 12-hour, 30-minute and 60-second counters, central chronograph seconds hand
• Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating, plus a see-through caseback
• Water resistance: 100m
• Strap: red rubber
• Weight: 135g
• Packaging: Tissot's signature helmet-shaped box

The Real Star: the Valjoux A05.951

The movement is what makes this watch worth talking about, so let's start there.

The Valjoux A05.951 is a modified member of the Valjoux 7750 family, the most widely used automatic chronograph architecture in Swiss watchmaking. Variants of it power chronographs from many well-known brands, and it has a reputation for being tough, serviceable and dependable.

Tissot's version, developed specifically for its MotoGP models, adds modern upgrades over the classic 7750:

• 68-hour power reserve, far more than the classic 7750's roughly 42 hours. Take it off on Friday and it should still be running on Monday morning.
• Nivachron balance spring, an anti-magnetic alloy that helps it stay accurate around phones, laptops and other everyday magnets.
• Cam-lever chronograph control, the proven system used across the 7750 family.
• 4Hz beat rate, so the seconds hand sweeps smoothly.

For context on how this fits into Tissot's wider movement line-up, read Tissot movements explained.

The Skeleton Dial: Racing Engineering on Show

Tissot's idea is simple: a MotoGP bike shows off its mechanics, so this watch should too. The see-through dial lets you look straight into the movement, with partial views of the gear train and chronograph works.

The design leans heavily on motorbike details. The bezel is shaped like a brake disc, the case is finished in black PVD steel, and a bright red central chronograph seconds hand echoes MotoGP's racing colours. The red rubber strap is inspired by motorcycle engine parts.

Flip it over and the see-through caseback shows the rest of the movement. Between the skeleton dial and the open back, you get far more mechanical theatre than most watches at this price offer. If you enjoy visible mechanics, Tissot's other open-worked option is worth knowing too. See our piece on the Tissot T-Complication Squelette.

Is It Really Good Value?

Let's test the "automatic value" claim honestly.

What You Get for $2,375

• A Swiss automatic chronograph from the respected 7750 family
• A 68-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic Nivachron spring
• A skeleton dial and see-through caseback
• Sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance
• A numbered limited edition of 2,026 pieces

Swiss automatic chronographs with these specs rarely sit this low. Many comparable watches from other brands cost noticeably more, and few add a skeleton dial and limited numbering at this level.

How It Compares Within Tissot

• T-Race MotoGP Quartz Chronograph: around $775, limited to 8,000 pieces. Same racing look, much cheaper, but quartz.
• PRX Automatic Chronograph: about $2,150, with a Valjoux A05.H31 and a 60-hour reserve. Cleaner integrated-bracelet design, no skeleton dial, not limited.
• T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph: $2,375, with a skeleton dial, 68-hour reserve and limited numbering.

For roughly $225 more than the PRX Automatic Chronograph, you get a longer power reserve, a skeleton dial and a limited edition. If the racing design appeals to you, that's a strong deal.

Where the Value Argument Weakens

The value only holds if you actually like the design. This is a bold, sporty watch with a very specific personality. If you'd rather have a mechanical chronograph you can wear with anything, the PRX Automatic Chronograph or another classic design will serve you better.

And remember that Tissot limited editions rarely become investments. Our analysis of whether a Tissot is a good investment shows most models lose value when resold. Buy it because you'll enjoy wearing it.

Size: The Biggest Thing to Know

At 45mm wide and 14.79mm thick, this is a big watch. Mechanical chronograph movements are thick, and the T-Race case is designed to look bold.

• Wrists over about 7.25 inches: it wears with real presence and looks proportionate.
• Smaller wrists: it will look and feel large. Try one on before buying if you can.
• Office wear: it won't slide under a shirt cuff easily. It's a weekend, sports and casual watch.

The rubber strap helps it sit comfortably, and at 135g, it isn't as heavy as its size suggests.

How It Differs From the 2025 Edition

Tissot also made a 2025 MotoGP automatic chronograph (ref. T141.462.27.041.00), limited to 2,025 pieces on a black silicone strap. The 2026 version uses the same Valjoux A05.951 movement, but with the latest T-Race case construction and a red rubber strap. If you already own the 2025, the 2026 is more of a collector's update than a technical leap.

Who Should Buy It?

Buy it if you love motorsport or MotoGP, want a Swiss mechanical chronograph with visible mechanics, have a larger wrist, and like the idea of owning a numbered limited edition.

Skip it if you want a versatile everyday watch, have smaller wrists, or prefer understated designs. A PRX or PRC 200 chronograph will suit you better. Read our Tissot PRC 200 review for a more classic option.

Comparing Tissot with its Swatch Group sibling for a sporty chronograph? Our Tissot vs Hamilton comparison helps you decide.

Buying Tips

Limited editions attract fakes and dishonest sellers, especially on marketplaces. Buy from Tissot or an authorised retailer when you can. If you're buying privately, read 5 ways to verify a Tissot before buying from a private seller, and check the limited-edition number matches the paperwork. Once it arrives, run through how to verify your Tissot is genuine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Tissot T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph 2026?

The Tissot T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph 2026 (ref. T141.462.27.051.00) costs $2,375 on Tissot's US website and CHF 1,965 in Switzerland. Prices vary by region and retailer.

Is the Tissot MotoGP automatic chronograph a limited edition?

Yes. The 2026 T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph is limited to 2,026 numbered pieces worldwide and comes in Tissot's helmet-shaped presentation box.

What movement is in the Tissot T-Race MotoGP automatic?

It uses the Swiss Valjoux A05.951, a modified Valjoux 7750-family automatic chronograph with a 68-hour power reserve, a 4Hz beat rate and an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring.

How big is the Tissot T-Race MotoGP automatic chronograph?

It has a 45mm stainless steel case with black PVD coating, 14.79mm thick and weighing 135g. It's best suited to larger wrists.

Is the Tissot T-Race MotoGP automatic worth it?

It's good value if you like the racing design. For $2,375, you get a Swiss automatic chronograph with a skeleton dial, 68-hour power reserve, sapphire crystal and limited numbering, which is rare at this price.

What's the difference between the 2025 and 2026 MotoGP automatic?

Both use the Valjoux A05.951 movement. The 2026 version is limited to 2,026 pieces with a red rubber strap and the newest T-Race case construction, while the 2025 version was limited to 2,025 pieces on a black silicone strap.

The Bottom Line

The T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph isn't for everyone, and it doesn't try to be. It's loud, it's big and it wears its racing heart on its sleeve, or rather, through its dial.

But if that's your style, it offers something rare at its price: a limited, Swiss, Valjoux-powered chronograph where you can actually watch the engine run.