1. Method for control of a direct-injection engine operated with controlled auto-ignition during speed transient operations, the method comprising: operating the engine at steady state, within a homogeneous charge compression-ignition (HCCI) load range, with fuel-air-diluent mixtures at predetermined conditions, for each speed and load, of fueling mass flow rate (fueling rate), injection timing (FI), spark timing (SI), throttle position, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve setting, and exhaust recompression obtained by negative valve overlap (NVO) between closing of the exhaust valves and opening of the intake valves in each cylinder; and controlling the engine during speed transients from a first steady state speed condition to a second steady state speed condition by synchronizing change rates of predetermined control inputs to the engine with the current engine speed change rate, the predetermined control inputs including at least three of FI, SI, throttle position, EGR valve setting and NVO.