2 stroke exhaust port question

[Roger Taylor]

I am in the process of building the Crusader 60 2 stroke aircraft engine and I am working on the cylinder bypass and exhaust ports. On the attached cylinder detail, the exhaust port is shown with a .060" center web making for two .400" L ports side by side. My question is: what is the purpose of the small, circled center divider and is it necessary?

 

[f2cf1g]

To stop the rings expanding into the port and hitting the port edge.