The AXYS Crank is a "porkchop" crank... Previous 800 CFi cranks were "full circle".
The AXYS crank is lighter and adds crankcase volume... 2.5 lbs less than the previous model.
I believe that this added crankcase volume is a major contributor to the enhanced output of the new 800 HO in the AXYS... part of an overall system that is tuned to take advantage of this. Changing the crank alone will not necessarily do anything for the output of the motor... but it will be snappier... I've seen that.