The valve lifter is your friend. It helps start the engine, it stops it and can be of great assistance with maintaining control in some situations such as off road and descending a steep embankment or the like.
Using the valve lifter to set the engine in the correct starting position, cracking open the throttle a whisker, plus giving what the Army used to call “a long swinging kick” sets you up for relaxed starting with no dramas.
Then once learned, you have a technique applicable to most every old fashioned single out there.
And finally, once learned you never forget. It’s like riding a bicycle. The muscle memory kicks in and you can do it no matter how long the break since last time.
Best of luck, it’s a nice looking bike. Now we need a photo of it being used in anger.
