PANTHERS launched their campaign in winning style courtesy of this thrill-a-minute triumph over the Aces.

After being starved of live speedway action for six months, this cracking clash had just about everything. But brushing aside the men from Manchester certainly wasn't a straightforward task.

In the end awesome Aussie Ryan Sullivan made sure the season began in winning style when seeing off former Panthers pal and big rival Jason Crump in a last heat decider.

A couple of hours earlier Sullivan had also taken the chequered flag in the opening race as the tapes went up on the new campaign with a 4-2, but the visitors soon demonstrated why this would be such a tough night for Panthers.

Andre Compton and Lee Smethills returned the compliment in the reserves race before Jason Lyons spearheaded an Aces 5-1 in heat three.

Belle Vue maintained their advantage with Crump getting the better of Sullivan in the sixth race and the situation really looked grim when Lyons and Brian Karger banged in their second 5-1.

Sullivan launched the rescue mission when being deployed as a tactical substitute and teaming up with Shane Parker for a 5-1 in heat eight and the home faithful were on their feet when Hans Clausen and Sam Tesar delivered more of the same when unexpectedly beating Crump in the next.

Back-to-back 4-2s then helped Panthers pull away and Sullivan returned the compliment to Crump in heat 13, but they were not out of the woods when Crump and Lyons banged in a penultimate race maximum.

That set up a grandstand finish in which Sullivan took centre stage and saw Panthers home to an opening night triumph.

Scores

Panthers: Ryan Sullivan 16+1, Hans Clausen 7, Piotr Protasiewicz 7, Shane Parker 6+1, Sam Tesar 5+1, Chris Harris 4, Henning Bager 1+1

Belle Vue: Jason Crump 13+1, Jason Lyons 12+1, Brian Karger 6+2, Andre Compton 4+1, Sam Ermolenko 4, Matej Ferjan 3, Lee Smethills 1.