As a longtime partner of the sport's most prestigious championship legendary exhaust manufacturer FMF Racing has sought to leverage its support of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship by shining the spotlight on well-deserving racers who epitomize the Southern California brand's core values. For more than 45 years FMF has never wavered in its commitment to put all resources into its products, and the FMF Privateer Power Award embodies that spirit, becoming a beloved recognition for the underdog riders who serve as the lifeblood of American motocross.

Each week, FMF and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will recognize the rider that deserves to be celebrated for his efforts at each and every stop of the nine-round 2020 season. Each selected rider will be recognized for his ability to overcome the odds in pursuit of his racing dream, and the unwavering determination to go bar-to-bar alongside the most talented racers on the planet.

At the season-opening Circle K Loretta Lynn's National challenging track conditions wreaked havoc on the world's best riders, but in the 450 Class New Jersey rider Jeremy Smith continually found himself in the thick of things alongside many of the most prominent names in the division. The Kawasaki rider posted the 16th-fastest lap in qualifying, and stood tough in a constant battle for position mid-pack. Never before had Smith found himself so high in the running order, well within the points, and in the face of the pressure to earn a career-best finish he rose to the occasion. Smith finished inside the points in each moto, in 18th and 16th, to bring home an impressive 17th-place finish in the overall classification. It was the single-best outing of his career, and made Smith an easy choice for the first FMF Privateer Power Award for the 2020 season.

#309 Jeremy Smith / Marmora, New Jersey / Kawasaki
450 Class: 17th overall (18-16)