CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland, Aug 31, 2012 (AFP) - Quesne's second round 65 gave him an eight under par total of 133 and a one shot lead over Briton Danny Willett who fired a second successive 67.
Scotland's European Ryder Cup team member Paul Lawrie remains firmly in contention to follow up his win last weekend in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles as his second round 66 left him lying third, a further shot back.
David Howell, Marcus Fraser, Robert Coles and Tommy Fleetwood, courtesy of a 66, were a shot further adrift.
Quesne's compatriot, Gregory Bourdy, was unable to match the fireworks that saw him top the leaderboard after a first round 63, the Frenchman slipping to a share of 13th with a 75.
Quesne meanwhile is aiming to add to his maiden Tour win in the Open de Andalucia in March.
"I took a lot of pleasure from how I played today," said Quesne.
"I hit so many good shots; I managed to stay calm and I holed a lot of putts.
"My final round in Andalucia was the best of my career, because it was under a lot of pressure.
"But today was probably my second best, because the conditions were very tough and I hardly missed a shot. So I'm very happy."
Willett, who also won for the first time in the BMW International Open in June, wants to experience the winning feeling again too.
"It's all too easy to switch off mentally after a win, because you've got your card for another couple of years," said the Englishman.
"It depends what kind of personality you are really, but I want to taste that winning feeling every week I pitch up.
"It isn't realistic, but that's the goal, and as long as you're in with a decent shout come Sunday, you know you've played well."
European Masters second round scores at Crans-sur-Sierre here on Friday (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):
(Note: Second round play abandoned due to poor visibility. 6 players will finish their second round on Saturday morning)
133 - Julien Quesne (FRA) 68 65
134 - Danny Willett 67 67
135 - Paul Lawrie 69 66
136 - Robert Coles 66 70, Tommy Fleetwood 70 66, David Howell 66 70, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 68 68
137 - Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 68 69, Richie Ramsay 69 68, Romain Wattel (FRA) 67 70, Jaco Van Zyl (RSa) 69 68
138 - Anders Hansen (DEN) 68 70, Graeme Storm 68 70, Oliver Fisher 65 73, Peter Hanson (SWE) 69 69, Stephen Gallacher 67 71, Scott Barr (AUS) 66 72, Richard Finch 70 68, Michael Jonzon (SWE) 71 67, Jamie Donaldson 69 69, Gregory Bourdy (FRa) 63 75, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 68 70, Michael Hoey 70 68, Thomas Levet (FRA) 68 70, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 65 73
139 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 71 68, Markus Brier (AUT) 67 72, Phillip Price 68 71, Mathias Gronberg (SWE) 70 69, Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 72 67, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 68 71, Simon Dyson 69 70
140 - Steve Webster 69 71, Ross Fisher 70 70, Colin Montgomerie 72 68, Estanislao Goya (ARG) 74 66, Richard McEvoy 69 71, Marcel Siem (GER) 68 72, Alex Cejka (GER) 69 71, Tjaart Van Der Walt (RSA) 70 70, Alexander Noren (SWE) 71 69, Shane Lowry 69 71, David Lipsky (USA) 70 70, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 70 70
Selected
141 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 70 71, Berry Henson (USA) 68 73, Scott Hend (AUS) 71 70, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 68 73, Richard Sterne (RSA) 72 69
142 - Branden Grace (RSA) 70 72, Hennie Otto (RSA) 70 72, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 70 72, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (IND) 71 71, Darren Clarke 72 70, Jason Knutzon (USA) 70 72, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71 71, Marcus Both (AUS) 72 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 77 65, Angelo Que (PHI) 71 71,
Missed cut
143 - Garth Mulroy (RSA) 72 71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 70 73, Peter Karmis (RSA) 71 72, Kieran Pratt (AUS) 69 74, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 67 76, Keith Horne (RSA) 70 73
144 - Thomas Aiken (RSA) 72 72, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 73 71
145 - Himmat Singh Rai (IND) 71 74
146 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 73 73, Matthew Zions (AUS) 74 72, Mohd. Siddikur (BAN) 71 75, Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 72, Paul McGinley 72 74
147 - Rich Beem (USA) 72 75, Namchok Tantipokakul (THA) 74 73, Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) 74 73, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 66 81
148 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA) 73 75, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 71 77, Greg Norman (USA) 75 73
149 - Jbe Kruger (RSA) 74 75
150 - James Kingston (RSA) 73 77
151 - Andy Zhang (CHN) 72 79, Digvijay Singh (IND) 78 73
154 - Chiragh Kumar (IND) 77 77
155 - Zaw Moe (KOR) 78 77
156 - Richard Green (AUS) 79 77