I'd have to say that alighnment is the key. When I was removing my axle a couple weeks ago...I was pulling with all my might, and couldn't get the last few inches out...But when I positioned the wheel just right, it came out slicker than shit. When reassembling..I found it easier to have the chain tensioner push block (square aluminum piece which the axle goes through, which slides into swingarm) already in place, rather than sliding the axle through, and then trying to slide that block over the axle and into the swingarm. Hope that's clear, and mine's a '01, so not sure if it's the same?
You never know how fast you can go, until you crash.