Shiner BMX racer places third, makes podium in Grand Nationals

  • Nine-year-old Robert Kabela took home the third-place title of the 2024 Race of Champions at the USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
    Nine-year-old Robert Kabela took home the third-place title of the 2024 Race of Champions at the USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
  • Robert Kabela practices on his custom made race track at home.
    Robert Kabela practices on his custom made race track at home.

    Robert Kabela has been making some strides as he took home the third place title of the 2024 Race of Champions at the USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
    The nine-year-old placed third out of 25 top riders all across the United States from his age group. 
    It took two days of racing from Round One to Quarter Finals to Semi Finals to the Main Final. 
    “The race for this one is different than their last one because the jumps are bigger and there were more people in attendance,” Robert said. 
    This is the grand finale of the BMX race and was the “Race of Champions.”
    “We are so proud of Robert and how far he has come this year,” Robert’s mom Janessa Kabela said. “They invite all the top ten players of all the states to race in this. He was in the 8-novice class and there were 25 of the top kids in the country that came together to race.”
    BMX racing is a type of bicycle racing which features BMX riders sharing a short single-lap circuit or point-to-point course, with multiple banked corners, jumps and rollers. 
    Robert said there was a lot going on in his mind when he realized that he was gaining in the lead. 
    “I was really happy,” Robert said. “It was a hard track with a lot of jumps. I prepared for this race by practicing everyday.”
    Robert’s family built him a custom track at their home. It was built by Sweet Home Sand and Gravel for the sole purpose of Robert honing in his skill. 
    “We ended up building the track at our house in October,” Janessa said. “Robert was literally on it everyday. If we had lights, he would have been on it before school. He definitely put in the work and his win was well deserved and he’s looking forward to working harder for next year. 
    The track is an oval that we built out in the pasture. We have an area for the starting gate and once he gets onto the track, he can continue in a circle. It’s stuff he would see on the track at the races.”
    Robert is part of the American Soldier Network (ASN) BMX Team.
    The ASN team is a group of active and retired military veterans who race and have family members that race too. Their mission is to support veterans, military, and their families on the home front.
    Robert does a lot to stay in peak physical and mental condition for these races.
    “I do a lot of push-ups and lift weights up to ten pounds,” Robert said. “There’s a lot of pressure to these competitions and I think about all the support I have to push through it. It felt very good to advance, I’m very honored.”
    Robert aims to work harder for next year as he will be with faster kids in the next division. Robert’s goal for next year is to get better with the jumps and learn new bike tricks.