ReviewTissot T Race Moto GP 2016 – Limited Edition

“Cars and watches, it has been done. It has been done too much.” And we agree.
With all the craze we’ve seen for so many years over car and watch associations, you’d be forgiven to overlook bike and watch associations entirely. But turns out, bike and watch associations are being done since 2001 (15 years now) and the watches are as exciting (if not more) as compared to car + watch collaborations. Leader of the pack you ask? Well if you’re an ardent fan of the Moto GP, the most exciting superbike race in the world, there’s only one brand that will come to your mind each time a Nicky Hayden or Valentino Rossi reaches the podium – Tissot. In fact, Tissot has been celebrating every season of the Moto GP with a limited edition collector’s timepiece.
Bike lovers, you’re in for a treat! Behold the newest, 2016 Tissot T-Race Moto GP:

Probably the most ‘overlooked’ association in the world:

In racing, timing is the judge, the jury, and the executioner. From the start of a race to qualifying to the chequered flag, everything is decided in a matter of seconds. It’s therefore, the burden of the official timekeeper to decide the fate of 23 racers, riding their 230 horsepower bikes at an average of 220 km/h. Not an easy task by any means, I know. And because MotoGP has been an extremely competitive series for so many years now, the accuracy of timing data is absolutely crucial.

And that is exactly what Tissot has been doing since 2001. Though their association has been much more than just releasing official limited edition watches, but it’s their timing instruments that have been delivering the proof of milliseconds for fifteen years now  – instruments that once and for all bring “order within chaos”. Not only are their watches worn by the riders for their own personal references, but Tissot’s own transponders are also installed on each bike.

As a motorcycle crosses an intermediate lap mark, a signal is sent from the bike directly to the timekeeping booth within a span of milliseconds. And they’re no ordinary sensors, Tissot’s transponders have the ability to record timing accurate to the smallest decimal up to 400 km/h. From the booth, the Tissot timekeeping team monitors the performance of each rider, for each race. Remarkable right?

A tribute to the diehard bike lover:

Tissot’s passion for the world of ‘moto’ racing is reflected in their newest tribute, the 2016 T-Race Moto GP. Every single detail on this watch is well thought of, keeping the bike lover in mind. From the black carbon dial with red frames and silver linings mimicking the look of a bike’s dashboard, to the chronograph pushers that have been crafted to exactly replicate the look and feel of a footrest! But the little details don’t stop there.

If you open up the watch and observe the strap, you will find tyre tread on the rear side. What’s more, the strap attaches itself to the stainless steel case of the watch with the help of suspension rod looking lugs. The bezel too, mimics the look of a break disc. Too many details in one watch you might say? But let’s give credit where it’s due because Tissot added all these little details in the most minimalistic manner possible, and the tribute isn’t loud by any means. On the contrary, it’s a watch which not just motorbike, but car lovers will enjoy owning too.

Accurate to the T:

The T-Race isn’t all about the looks though.  This watch is all about precision you would expect coming from the official timekeeper of a professional series. Powered by the Swiss Made G10.212 super accurate quartz movement (one that powers some of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 watches too), you probably wouldn’t have to worry at all about accuracy with this watch.

While the chronograph counters are a bit off their usual positions at 10 and 2 o’clock, the seconds display is at 6 o’clock, a neatly done date display is at 3 and the inner bezel features a tachymetre. The counters are done in red outlined circles, designed to resemble a speedometer and the seconds counter has been left in the same carbon fiber theme of the dial. All of this is well protected with a strong 45mm stainless steel case, which also makes the watch water resistant up to 100 meters.

A limited edition tribute:

If the little details weren’t enough, Tissot delivers each MotoGP watch in a collector’s helmet box, with all certification and paperwork. They’ve made just 8,888 pieces of this watch for the world, and you can reserve yours by clicking here.

What is your dream watch? Let us know in the comments section below!

(Image courtesy: GearPatrol, Hodinkee & Tissot)