System and method for controlling engine operation

An engine, comprising,

• an engine block defining a cylinder;
• a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position;
• an intake valve operatively associated with the cylinder and moveable between a first position where the intake valve prevents fluid from flowing relative to the cylinder and a second position where a flow of fluid is allowed to flow relative to the cylinder;
• a cam assembly connected to the intake valve to move the intake valve between the first and second positions;
• an actuator configured to selectively prevent the intake valve from returning to the first position;
• a sensor configured to sense at least one operating parameter of the engine;
• and
• a controller operable to selectively operate the engine in a first mode wherein the cam assembly begins to move the intake valve from the first position toward the second position when the piston is at or near the top dead center position of an intake stroke and wherein the cam assembly returns the intake valve to the first position when the piston is at or near a bottom dead center position of the intake stroke and a second mode wherein the cam assembly begins to move the intake valve from the first position toward the second position when the piston is at or near the top dead center position of an intake stroke and wherein the actuator prevents the intake valve from returning to the first position in response to the cam assembly, the controller selecting one of the first and second modes of engine operation based upon the sensed operating parameter of the engine.