Not only to keep running, but also to get more power and rotations. At start we set the cdi on 5° BTDC to start the engine easy. If the engine runs, the egnition will go to (depent on engine) ~35° BTDC (normal ignitionpoint) From ~8000 till xxxx rpm we lett the ignition go to =>40° BTDC to get more rpm. Belowe the 8000 rpm you can set the egnition to get more power.
On 2 stroke (like Zenoah PUM260) it will over 30.000 rpm. Overhere you can see wat kind of spark we create