The 21-year-old stunned the motocross community with a fabulous rookie season on the Women's Motocross Championship circuit.
The Palmerston flyer won both races in the opening event in Qatar last year and was back on the pace in the Netherlands, winning the first race and placing fourth in the second despite taking a tumble.
But during the German round she collided with a photographer who had crept too close to the edge of the track.
Duncan sustained a hand injury and was forced to miss the next two events. The crash derailed her world championship prospects but she is all set for another tilt at the title and reckons she is better equipped for the challenge ahead.
''I've had a year under my belt now and I do know what to expect,'' Duncan said.
''I know what I'm up against but at the same time it has been six months since I've raced those girls. They've been preparing overseas, so we can't quite see where each other is at.
''But my focus is on myself and I know that I've prepared well and I'm here in New Zealand doing what it takes to be ready.''
Duncan has been racing the men in the MX2 but pulled out of the New Zealand Championships last week to concentrate on the world championship.
''We've had a relatively good pre-season here with a lot races but we are two weeks out from the world champs now. I leave in less than a week actually, so the focus has now switched to that and we are putting the finishes touches together at the training tracks to be as ready as we can be for that gate drop in Indonesia.''
Round one gets under way in Pangkal Pinang in Indonesia on March 5.
Round two is in Italy, while the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and England are also on the ticket with the circuit visiting France twice.
Duncan and coach Josh Coppins will be based in Belgium for six months during the championship. The pair have been working hard to refine her racing.
While Duncan did not get the results she was hoping for during the New Zealand season, the preparation was exactly what she needed.
''I learnt a lot and I now know what I didn't know last year and I can put that to work to prepare myself better for this season.
''All in all I'm excited with where we are at and I'm looking forward to the worlds.''
