Photo by Seven Wonders Studios: Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Izaih Clark qualified for a Supercross main event this past week in Arlington, Tex.

The success Fort Dodge riders have had in Supercross and Arenacross has raised a lot of questions.

Currently, Fort Dodge Senior High graduates Izaih Clark and Deegan Hepp have been ripping it up on the track. As a result, the on-going joke in the racing community from all over the state continues today:

What’s in the Fort Dodge water?

In Arlington, Tex. this past weekend, Clark became the sixth local rider and second in the past two months to qualify for a Supercross main event.

“It was pretty cool to make it,” said Clark, a 2019 FDSH graduate. “It’s definitely been a goal of mine and something that I wanted to accomplish.”

Clark follows Hepp, who did it in San Francisco in the middle of January. The pair join fellow Fort Dodgers Chad Pederson, Justin Brayton, Teddy Maier and Gavin Faith as local riders to compete in Supercross main events.

Once in the main event, Clark calmed his nerves and went to work. In his first main event, Clark crossed the finish line in 17th place during the 250SX race on his Storm Lake Honda.

“I was pretty nervous,” Clark admitted. “I rode a little tight, but this definitely won’t be my last one.”

Clark, now 23 years old, attained his pro license in 2020. He has turned in 25th- and 23rd-place performances in 2023.

The Fort Dodge native has bounced back from a tough injury that set him back last fall.

“I had a crash in September, breaking my collarbone and hurting my arm,” Clark said. “I got back to riding and noticed I didn’t have any grip strength in my hand, so I got an MRI and figured out I tore some of the muscles that control my grip.”

With the injury, Clark had to go under the knife.

“I ended up having a surgery a few weeks before the first round and didn’t have time to recover,” Clark said. “I took some time off, and that definitely helped me get back on track.”

In retrospect, Clark realized he may have jumped back on the bike too soon.

“I was probably too excited and didn’t want to sit at home, not riding,” Clark said. “I probably should’ve taken some more time off. But with the new season and new team, I didn’t want to wait.”

Clark will once again try to defy the odds and pull a double this weekend in Daytona. Clark is riding in Supercross and Arenacross in the same weekend for the first time.

The Storm Lake/Honda racer will compete in Arenacross on Friday and Supercross the following day in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Round 11 of the AMA Arenacross Championship will have their AX Pro night show on Friday.

“I’ve been doing training in South Carolina and am pretty excited about this season,” Clark said. “This will be the first time I’ve done Arenacross and Supercross in the same weekend, but it’s going to be fun and I’m excited at the chance.”