A method of ceasing rotation of a four stroke internal combustion engine, comprising: ceasing fuel supply; fully opening a throttle of said engine inlet at a beginning of engine shutdown so as to maximise available manifold pressure; controlling the cylinder air charge from the engine inlet such that: a cylinder predicted to stop on a power stroke has a reduced air charge on a first inlet being the final inlet stroke for that cylinder before the stroke on which the engine is predicted to stop, relative to an air charge provided on the preceding inlet stroke of that cylinder; a cylinder predicted to stop on a compression stroke has a comparatively full air charge on the respective inlet stroke; and a cylinder stopping on an induction stroke is provided with a comparatively full air charge compared to the reduced air charge; wherein the cylinder air charge is controlled by adjustment of lift and/or opening duration, and/or opening time and/or closing time of a poppet valve of each respective cylinder; wherein during a first time at the beginning of engine shutdown, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge, and wherein during a second time subsequent to the first time, the poppet valves are controlled to reduce cylinder air charge, and during a third time subsequent to the second time, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge. ceasing fuel supply; fully opening a throttle of said engine inlet at a beginning of engine shutdown so as to maximise available manifold pressure; controlling the cylinder air charge from the engine inlet such that: a cylinder predicted to stop on a power stroke has a reduced air charge on a first inlet being the final inlet stroke for that cylinder before the stroke on which the engine is predicted to stop, relative to an air charge provided on the preceding inlet stroke of that cylinder; a cylinder predicted to stop on a compression stroke has a comparatively full air charge on the respective inlet stroke; and a cylinder stopping on an induction stroke is provided with a comparatively full air charge compared to the reduced air charge; wherein the cylinder air charge is controlled by adjustment of lift and/or opening duration, and/or opening time and/or closing time of a poppet valve of each respective cylinder; wherein during a first time at the beginning of engine shutdown, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge, and wherein during a second time subsequent to the first time, the poppet valves are controlled to reduce cylinder air charge, and during a third time subsequent to the second time, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge. a cylinder predicted to stop on a power stroke has a reduced air charge on a first inlet being the final inlet stroke for that cylinder before the stroke on which the engine is predicted to stop, relative to an air charge provided on the preceding inlet stroke of that cylinder; a cylinder predicted to stop on a compression stroke has a comparatively full air charge on the respective inlet stroke; and a cylinder stopping on an induction stroke is provided with a comparatively full air charge compared to the reduced air charge; wherein the cylinder air charge is controlled by adjustment of lift and/or opening duration, and/or opening time and/or closing time of a poppet valve of each respective cylinder; wherein during a first time at the beginning of engine shutdown, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge, and wherein during a second time subsequent to the first time, the poppet valves are controlled to reduce cylinder air charge, and during a third time subsequent to the second time, the poppet valves are controlled to maximise cylinder air charge. <EOS>